Jon Dean Runnalls
2003 Montana Teacher of the Year
Mr. Runnalls teaches students in the sixth grade at Helena Middle School in Helena, Montana. He has been teaching for twenty-nine years.

What are your beliefs about teaching?
"The ultimate goal of teaching should be the enhancement of our democratic ideals and the transfer of knowledge. Every child should be treated with respect and given the opportunity to learn in an environment that is accepting and nurturing. I believe that all children want to learn. The classroom, therefore, becomes a community of players where the act of learning takes place, and that is why I believe teaching is a noble profession. What could be more important than the sharing of ideals and knowledge from one generation to the next?"

How are your beliefs incorporated in your teaching style?
"We work as teachers because we feel we can make a difference. I have found the rewards of teaching to be numerous. The twinkle in the eyes of a learner when you know something has just been mastered. The great thing about this is that the individual now has a morsel of knowledge that he will carry with him forever. Whether it is in the classroom or coaching, my own personal teaching style is a collage of my beliefs collected over the years about the importance of education, the need to share knowledge, and the inspiration of wonder and excitement about the world in which we live."

What is your greatest teaching accomplishment?
"My greatest accomplishment is to have not given up and to still love what I do after twenty-nine years."

What's the most critical issue facing educators?
"The role of assessment has recently become significant in education. Today many decisions are being made about the role of assessment in the learning process. I feel that assessment is a major issue facing education today and with the standards and ESEA movement taking effect, the role of assessment is becoming increasingly important. As school resources continue to shrink and further demands for accountability rise, it is evident that the role of assessment will be a true measure of our effectiveness in the classroom."

What do you think can be done to solve this issue?
"The basis for accountability in the teaching profession is multi-faceted. I feel all teachers welcome accountability, and our profession needs accountability and assessment to be successful. There needs to be a process in place whereby the system used to evaluate teachers, students and schools is clear, workable, positive and in the best interest of children and learning. The teachers cannot be the only ones held accountable. The school, the administration, the teachers, the parents, the community and the students must be accountable for the system to work effectively. Whatever is done at the federal, state or local level needs to be done in a manner that facilitates success with children and provides the resources to make that happen. Too often in education our hands are tied by limited resources."

One thought to inspire teachers to excel
"The miracles we perform every day are very important.