Linda M. McKay
2003 South Dakota Teacher of the Year
Ms. McKay currently teaches High School Business, Computer Technology and Career Readiness at Belle Fourch. She has been teaching for twenty-five years.

What are your beliefs about teaching?
"I believe that through a disciplined, goal-oriented, well-organized, caring atmosphere, there can exist between teacher and student, a mutual respect, which will result in real learning and productivity. My students understand that the subject matter I teach is relevant to their futures. They also know that I take my responsibility as their teacher very seriously. One of my goals is to stress a good work ethic in the classroom that will carry over to their extracurricular activities, current jobs and, future careers. Just as I set high expectations for myself, my expectations of my students are equally lofty. To balance my high expectations, it is also important that my students understand that, we may not always reach our goals. If we shoot for the moon and miss, we will still land among the stars."

How are your beliefs incorporated in your teaching style?
"First comes the genuine caring and heartfelt guidance, both of which set the stage for authentic learning. Individual attention, hands-on activities, active learning, and adapting to individual learning styles are extremely important as I address the needs of my students. While teaching business and computer classes, I have integrated the four “D’s" into my teaching style - discuss, demonstrate, dive-in, and do it. In other words, I find it important for the student to hear the concept, see the concept and perform the concept. In that way, I'm able to cover the majority of the learning styles of my students."

What is your greatest teaching accomplishment?
"In spite of the awards and recognition earned by my students and my programs, I consider the goose-bump moments that come along every so often to be my greatest contributions and accomplishments. When a student thanks me for caring, understanding and explaining - when at last, the student gets it and the light bulb comes on. When, just this summer, a student who I didn’t think listened to me for two periods each day all year long said, ‘Mrs. McKay, I got the job. I applied those interview skills that we practiced and the employer was impressed with my resume. Thank you so much for showing me the proper way of handling myself in a professional setting.’ Or when a former student asked me to write letters of recommendations to South Dakota’s two Senators and one representative for her application to West Point Military Academy. The goose-bump moment came when I received her thank-you letter informing me of her acceptance. I save evidence of those extraordinary moments because it helped me get through the rough spots that all educators have along the way. To me, those incomparable, goose-bump moments are what teaching is all about."

What's the most critical issue facing educators?
"Although sufficient funding, teacher quality and student achievement are extremely important, I feel that the most critical issue facing educators today deals with the connection between the home and the school. We have evolved into a fast-paced society, where families struggle to find quality time together, even for an evening meal. The support system that was once found within the family unit has changed. The responsibility to help children live balanced lives has shifted from the extended family to the educators. Because the face of the American family has changed, the students in our schools have changed. I feel that we, as educators, need to work together with parents to adjust, adapt, and eventually embrace the 21st century family."

What do you think can be done to solve this issue?
“I'm very aware that the major responsibility of public schools is to educate America’s youth. I also know that a student’s ability to learn is directly affected by situations that they confront in their daily lives. Issues such as student nutrition and health, school safety, and after-school programs are being addressed. I'm particularly supportive of programs that will serve to educate parents on steps they can take to ensure balanced lives and academic success for their children. My interest in parenting programs stems from the following. In 1994, Secretary of Education, Richard W. Riley, announced the formation of a nationwide partnership to ‘promote partnerships that will increase parental involvement and participation.’ He also stated, ‘By the year 2000, every school will promote partnerships that will increase parental involvement and participation in promoting the social, emotional, and academic growth of children.’

How do we get parents involved in their children’s educational process? It is the educators’ responsibility to lead the way in pursuing parental involvement. The Parent-Teacher-Student Associations have a definite purpose; school districts across the country are reviving and recreating them to meet the changing needs of the community. We cannot effectively educate our students without parental involvement. To engage parents, we need to stretch beyond our comfort zones and reach out in ways that will actually work for today’s on-the-go families.”

One thought to inspire teachers to excel
“Focus on the individual child. Ask what you can do to help each child experience success. You truly can make a difference.”

One lesson every student should learn
“I hope that my students learn from me to reserve judgment, to take responsibility for their lives, learning, and actions, to learn to fail with grace and to use the experience to propel future success. I will have succeeded as a teacher when my students take action to engage their lives by striving to make a positive impact on their world.”

Favorite Teaching Tool
“A state-of-the-art computer, a projector, a scanner, a digital camera, and now a SMART Board interactive whiteboard.”

Favorite Web site:
http://askeric.org/Virtual/Lessons/ – Ask Eric
www.scans2000.swep.com/ – Secretary’s Commission on Achieving Necessary Skills