Joyce Dunn
2003 Pennsylvania Teacher of the Year
Ms. Dunn has been teaching first grade elementary children for thirty-two years at Shanksville Stonycreek School in Shanksville Pennsylvania.

What are your beliefs about teaching?
“As a teacher I influence the future of every child by each word and action I take. If a child has a negative experience in the first grade, in almost every case, that child dislikes education for the remainder of his years in school. Children deserve to be respected and valued, enjoying a safe and secure learning environment. I am committed to using diagnostic tools to identify each child’s strengths and weaknesses.”

How are your beliefs incorporated in your teaching style?
“Through providing a joyful, developmentally appropriate learning environment, each child can fulfill his/her potential.”

What is your greatest teaching accomplishment?
“Teaching over 800 children through the years to read and write.”

What's the most critical issue facing educators today?
“By fourth grade, across the United States, we have over half of our children not reading on grade level. This is such a serious problem that it will influence our entire society in a negative, devastating manner.”

What do you think can be done to resolve this issue?
“Only through every teacher in our country addressing this crisis can we turn this around. If all teachers taught systematically the five key components of reading we could address the problems of early literacy in our school. The components are phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary and comprehension. Identifying, learning and mastering these components help students to become better readers.”

One thought to inspire teachers to excel
“Teachers together can change the world. We can make this happen one child at a time.”

One lesson every student should learn
“Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”

Favorite Website:
The Ultimate Teachers Resource - “www.teachers.net”

Favorite Tool:
“Books, books and more books! Multi-sensory teaching strategies.”