Patricia R. Perry
2003 Idaho Teacher of the Year
Ms. Perry has been teaching first grade students for thirty years. She currently teaches at Skyway Elementary School in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho.

What are your beliefs about teaching?
"Teaching is supporting others to learn something that they wish to learn or have a need to learn. It is recognizing where they are in the process of learning, looking at what they know and assisting them with that next step. Teaching is not only the knowledge that you are sharing but also the attitude and joy that you share that causes the learner to be able to learn and want to learn more. Teaching is providing the climate for those learners to succeed. Teaching should be supportive, risk-free and enjoyable, yet filled with the expectation that students will learn. The teacher guides and provides feedback and acceptance of approximations. Teaching involves the teacher as a traveler. The teacher models the same framework for learning for himself as he does for students so they become lifelong learners. Teaching is questioning your beliefs and practices and knowing why you make the instructional decisions that you do. Teaching is an appreciation for individuality. Students can explore their strengths and weaknesses without risk."

How are your beliefs incorporated in your teaching style?
"Successful teachers believe all children can learn given a safe, risk-free environment. By task analyzing, providing clear instruction and guiding students through each step I can create confidence in my students. Independence comes from lots of practice and encouragement. The secret is to support without taking away the growth that only comes from challenge."

What is your greatest teaching accomplishment?
"My greatest accomplishment is knowing that because of me children are reading. I enjoy watching the confidence and spirit that children display because they have power over their language to communicate effectively with others. There is nothing like it!"

What's the most critical issue facing educators?
"Children are coming to school without the ability to make decisions for themselves and are becoming more and more dependent on others. I believe this is a result of the lack of values such as honesty, responsibility and respect. Students are not learning how to take responsibility for their actions or words. Students want others to provide for them, want others to do their work and want to blame others for their mistakes."

What do you think can be done to solve this issue?
"I believe it will be necessary for educators to lead the parents and children. School is the constant factor in the lives of many children. We will need to change their attitude about work and responsibility. We need to allow children to make mistakes and give them the time and opportunity to solve their own problems. Teachers need to facilitate or coach with respect and concern. 'The surest path to high self-esteem is to be successful at something one perceived would be difficult. Each time we steal a student's struggle, we steal the opportunity for them to build self-confidence. They must do hard things to feel good about themselves.' (Dr. Sylvia Rimm)."

One thought to inspire teachers to excel
"Choose your attitude. It's attitude that will determine the quality of our time on this earth."

One lesson every student should learn
"Choose your attitude. Invent an approach to life, an attitude, that inspires you. Take into life with you every day."

Favorite Teaching Tool
"In first grade, I have found that it's those real treasures that students bring to school that motive and inspire learning. Bugs or parts from an old telephone send us off in directions we could never imagine."

Favorite Web site
www.teachers.net – A Web site for teachers
www.geocities.com – Geocities