Patrice P. McCrary
2003 Kentucky Teacher of the Year
Ms. McCrary has been teaching Kindergarten children for sixteen years. She currently teaches at Cumberland Trace Elementary School in Bowling Green, Kentucky.

What are your beliefs about teaching?
"Every classroom is filled with a world of scientists, mathematicians, authors, artists, caregivers, production managers and more. Teachers are the facilitators of a world of exploration, investigation and discovery who take every teachable moment to make learning real. That learning can only be optimal when the students feel safe and valued in their learning environment. A classroom should be a celebration of learning with every child progressing to heights of success."

How are your beliefs incorporated in your teaching style?
"The room I share with twenty-three kindergarten students is steeped in a constant celebration of learners. When new learning takes place students are encouraged to 'kiss their brain' by kissing their fingertips and touching their heads. The students enjoy making up special cheers to give each other. No day passes without celebrating how brilliant the children are. I work to build an excitement and love of learning that will create a never-ending thirst for more. My students are authors and respond to original works. They create algebraic problems using unifix cubes, problem solve geometric real life situations, and use simple playing cards, dice (random number generators) and dominoes to explore place value, number value, addition, subtraction and more. Our classroom is an adventure with the ceiling of learning removed."

What is your greatest teaching accomplishment?
"Accomplishments and contributions in the teaching realm are unique, in my humble opinion. I have awards framed and hanging in my study, notes from administrators thanking me for serving and leading committees and conferences, diplomas showing that I have accomplished course work and file folders stacked upon file folders as a monument to the National Board Certification I have completed. None of these 'accomplishments' holds a candle to the notes I have lovingly placed in my file folder labeled with a simple smiley face. In this folder are notes, letters, pictures, etc. from parents and, even more importantly, children. The notes, letters and pictures are testaments of a teacher who sees each child. Knowing my children and doing what is best for each and every one of them, then getting notes to keep as evidence. Now that is an accomplishment."

What's the most critical issue facing educators?
"Accountability - the ‘a’ word that strikes fear in the hearts of many is proving to be a critical issue in education today just as it has been for years."

What do you think can be done to solve this issue?
"I strongly feel that accountability in the school system is a multi-faceted entity. Just as you would never ask that a perfectly cut diamond be placed in a setting with only one prong, we should never place a child's success in a setting with only one support to success. Teachers, students, administrators, parents, the community and higher education teacher programs must all play a part in safely holding a child within the school setting so that he may shine, sparkle and be admired by his brilliance.

Administrators must stay in touch with what is happening in the classroom. Every administrator should teach a class or classes on a regular basis to see the importance of what is happening in the classroom. Parents must support their child's education. A child who is sent to school hungry, dirty, sleepy and/or worn down may be able to learn, but chances are that this is not that child's top priority.

Parents must be taught the importance of being partners in the educational trek of their child. Community involvement is certainly a targeted area of support for children. After-school programs supported by the community, business partners in education, junior achievement programs and more lead the way as positive examples of how the community is making efforts to be supportive of our children.

Finally, there is the issue of teacher accountability. Higher education teaching programs must foster content-strong, pedagogically sound candidates that come to school with an understanding that no two children are alike. No teacher should be put into a classroom without the necessary tools to guide children to success. The buck does indeed stop with the teacher, but that buck should be braced by genuine value - much like a multi-pronged setting for a diamond."

One thought to inspire teachers to excel
"Teaching is a step into our future. Each step needs to be made with confidence and enthusiasm. The climate created in a classroom is a make or break start for children. A room where all children are seen as individuals with differing interests, learning styles, and more is a room where the sky is the limit for learning with joy. May that step into the future be your source of joy should you choose to be a teacher."

One lesson every student should learn
"Every student should learn that people care. Secondly, every student should learn to care for himself. Being content in where he is headed is a step toward excellence. Finally, and I realize this is more than simply one lesson, every student needs to learn to care for those around him. For only then do we begin to use our time, talents and knowledge for good."

Favorite Teaching Tool:
"My favorite teaching tools range from great literature to a simple deck of playing cards. A good teaching tool is anything that a student can use to gain new information and walk away knowing more."

Favorite web site:
www.yahooligans.com - Yahooligans
funschool.com - Fun School
www.readinglady.com – Reading Lady
www.funbrain.com – Funbrain
www.teacherweb.com/KY/BowlingGreen/MrsMcCrary – Personal Web site