Lynn Astarita Gatto
New York State Teacher of the Year
Henry Hudson No. 28 School, Rochester, New York
Grade 4, all subjects

My teaching philosophy
What is it that makes people successful and happy in life? The obvious contributing factor is having knowledge and skills, but the two other important components are adaptability to new situations and being a team player. I aspire to instill all three in my students. I accomplish this through two major approaches: by creating a family learning environment where every child cares for each other and knows they are cared about, and by creating highly motivating experiences, inside and outside of school.

My philosophy in action
My classroom social structure centers on the concept of being a “team”. I loop with my class for three years to instill a strong academic and emotional continuity for my students and their parents. This powerful sense of belonging is not enough, however, to provide academic success. Carefully planned units of study and intentional use of environment are how my students meet and exceed standards, as well as learn to adapt to new situations.

My greatest teaching accomplishment
My greatest sense of accomplishment after thirty years of teaching comes from knowing that I still unlock my classroom door every morning with enthusiasm and determination to give all of my students a successful and worthwhile school day.

The most critical issue facing educators today
Society's problems of poverty, racism, violence and economics all fall at the doorstep of our schools. As a result, our schools are expected to solve these problems. As a nation, we have too many students lagging or failing academically and many more that are unmotivated.

Ways to resolve this issue
The true foundation of successful schools is based on social relationships. Schools must be willing to extend themselves beyond the norm to meet each child's needs in order to provide environments of success. Children need to participate in school experiences where they feel a sense of value about themselves. Schools must not ignore students’ cultural backgrounds.

One thought to inspire educators to succeed
In the popular movie Spider-man, the hero’s mantra is, "Great power comes from great responsibility." These words are far more appropriate for teachers than superheroes. In this nation, teachers have the great responsibility of preparing our future generations for citizenship, and that gives them the great power for true transformation of society's ills.

One Lesson every student should learn
You get what you give.

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