Carol Rossi-Fries
2003 New York Teacher of the Year
Ms. Fries has been teaching Social Studies to high school students for the past 22 years. She currently teaches grade eight students at Potsdam Central School in Potsdam, NY.

What are your beliefs about teaching?
“I believe that teaching is not a job or even a career. It is a lifestyle. As such, I believe teachers should motivate students to be life-long learners as they, themselves are. To this end, we should incorporate as many disciplines into the subjects we teach so we can broaden our students’ horizons on many levels. Always dare them to try new things and follow their dreams. As Emily Dickenson wrote, ‘Dwell in possibility.’ We should encourage all students to do that.”

How are your beliefs incorporated in your teaching style?
“I use the interdisciplinary approach as much as possible to encourage student interest and to evaluate them on a variety of levels and across the broad spectrum of learning styles. Literature, art, music and dance are a reflection of our history and culture so I often use them to develop cultural literacy and have fun! For example, a WWII project is staging a USO show where students demonstrate the jitterbug, perform in a swing band, sing as the Andrews Sisters and even do an act by Abbott and Costello. We also take an annual trip to D.C. and Gettysburg so students can experience the wonders of travel. “

What is your greatest teaching accomplishment?
“My greatest accomplishment is really a culmination of many years working with kids in and out of the classroom. After coaching, grading massive numbers of papers and chaperoning trips and dances, I received the greatest gift of all from my students. Potsdam Central’s Class of 2001 dedicated their yearbook to me and chose me to be their speaker at commencement! Nothing has meant more to me than that. My investment in them paid off in a way that can never be measured in dollars. It was an investment in their hearts and minds.”

What's the most critical issue facing educators today?
“A critical issue facing educators today in New York is testing. Both teachers and students are pressured to meet the high standards being imposed on them and to perform well on high stakes exams.”

What do you think can be done to resolve this issue?
“The Board of Regents and the Commissioner should re-examine the schedule of tests in 4th and 8th grades to make it more manageable. Further, changes should be made in curriculum so fewer topics will be taught in one year but with greater depth. This is what is done in most other industrialized countries whose scores exceed ours. If we are competing with them, we should follow their lead in curriculum development. Lastly, test scores should not be the sole determinant of student achievement. Students have different learning (and testing) styles. We should be helping kids capitalize on their strengths while compensating for their weaknesses.”

One thought to inspire teachers to excel
“We must invest in the hearts and minds of young people. Their future is the future of the world. Invest wisely.”

One lesson every student should learn
“As Thomas Edison said, ‘There is no substitute for hard work.’”

Favorite Website:
“The Civil War Home Page.”