2002 Indiana Teacher of the Year
Ms. Boutin teaches a variety of subjects to the Grade 5 and 6 students in New Albany-Floyd County in Indiana. She has eight years of teaching experience.

What are your beliefs about teaching?
"We need to do whatever it takes to get through to each and every child who walks through the door each day – each one an individual with gifts and needs that are all her own. We must meet those needs and value those gifts before any learning can take place."

How are your beliefs incorporated in your teaching style?
"I incorporate my beliefs about teaching by combining a variety of teaching methods and best practices to form a curriculum that makes sense to the children I teach while meeting or exceeding state and local standards."

What is your greatest teaching accomplishment?
"The greatest teaching accomplishment is the priceless feedback from my students – the telephone call from a former student to thank me for making her believe that she is a mathematician or letting me know that she just did well on a quiz; having a parent and child stop by the next school year to show off report card grades and give me a hug; a phone call from a parent to share that her daughter's artwork has just won an award and she wanted to thank you for offering her daughter encouragement five years ago."

What's the most critical issue facing educators today and what do you think can be done to resolve this issue?
"One of the most critical issues facing public education today is standardized testing. Teachers are to teach life skills, technology skills, good health habits and a myriad of other skills. If teachers do not produce the appropriate results, it is the fault of the school – not the parents, not society. You as a teacher have failed. This issue can be resolved by keeping standards in hand when planning, reflecting and looking for ways to assess student knowledge. If the public wants academically capable students with problem-solving and communication skills, we need to produce them. We can do this by teaching to well-written, meaningful standards."

Inspirational thought:
"Now, more than ever, teachers will shape the future. We must excel. Think of the alternative."