David Morrison
Illinois Teacher of the Year
Prospect High School, Prospect, IL
Grades 9-12, Band

My teaching philosophy
Every child has a genius within. It is our job, as teachers, to find that genius and draw it out.

My philosophy in action
I never give up on a student. When he or she isn't responding, I find a better way to reach him or her. That way, the onus is on me to be a better teacher, not on the child to be a better learner. That latter part will come when I find the key to unlocking his or her natural curiosity and motivation.

My greatest teaching accomplishment
My greatest accomplishment in teaching was reaching one of my most challenging students in a very profound manner. Several years ago, I encountered "Bob". Bob was an incoming freshman tuba player in my band. My first several encounters with Bob were tenuous, to say the least. He was rude, spacey, impatient, inattentive, disruptive and angry. He was an all-around impossible student.

After several disastrous rehearsals with Bob, I faced a choice. Do I cut him loose or do I follow my philosophy of looking for the best in others? I am so glad that I chose the latter. In keeping with this philosophy, I asked Bob to see me after rehearsal. I began by asking the question, "Bob, why are you in band?" I expected the usual sort of response, where he might tell me that his parents were making him be in band, in which case I would have been able to speak with his parents and send him on his way. However, when Bob responded, he gave a very surprising and different sort of response. Bob told me that he was in band because he wanted to be part of an organization that is special, and he wanted to help others achieve greatness. Given the behavior that I had seen coming from Bob up to this point, his statement floored me. I continued to question him as to why he behaved the way he did. He responded by admitting that he had a lot of trouble with authority.

Against the sound of several screaming voices coming from deep inside of me, I decided to keep Bob in band and to help him. At this point, he had me. If he was going to open up to me this way, I couldn't let him down. Somebody had to believe in this guy. Three difficult years and one great year followed our initial conversation. I will never forget the time Bob rammed his hand through an eight-foot-plate-glass window in anger. Nor will I forget calling Bob at home when he didn't show up for rehearsals, or the crazy therapy sessions that we shared, where I desperately tried to convince Bob that he could preserve his individuality and he could respect the rights and feelings of others as well.

But I will also always remember the time Bob came up to me after a season-ending performance and hugged me, thanking me through his tears, until I started to cry myself. Or the time he told me that he was going to become a band director, so that he could do for others what I had done for him. With Bob, I know that I have left an indelible track on the soul of the world's future. He taught me that looking for the kind and loving spirit within every student is eminently worth the effort.

The most critical issue facing educators today
Given the drive for higher testing standards, our most critical issue is to keep creativity and ingenuity at the center of our educational focus. The one thing that the world admires about the United States’ education system is its inventiveness. We can't dumb ourselves down creatively just so we can get a few more correct answers on a standardized test.

Ways to resolve this issue
The biggest factor driving creativity is the arts. The arts need to be moved from the edges of education to the center. Every child needs and deserves exposure to creativity through the arts.

One thought to inspire other teachers to succeed
Take time to find the best within yourselves and in those around you. You will be surprised and energized.

One lesson every student should learn
Every student should learn that they have greatness within them.

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