Paul M. Lewanski
California Teacher of the Year
Tustin High School, Tustin, CA
Grade 10-12, Chemistry

My teaching philosophy
My philosophy of teaching is very simple and straightforward. Help students understand how to learn, provide students with appropriate opportunities and tools to learn, and, most importantly, show students that learning is fun.

My philosophy in action
Primarily my students and I have fun together in the classroom and lab. I use materials from the student's own life experiences whenever possible, in addition to more traditional lab equipment. We also apply our chemistry experiences to other curricular areas such as history, art, biology and English.

My greatest teaching accomplishment
My greatest teaching accomplishment is to have helped a student realize her dream to become not only the first member of her family to graduate from high school, but to become the first member of her family to attend college.

The most critical issue facing educators today
The most critical issue facing educators today is the recruitment and retention of qualified teachers within our profession.

Ways to resolve this issue
The answer to this problem is the development of a support and training system for teachers in their first years of teaching. This program should be research based and be formalized as part of the first years of service for all new teachers rather then being left as an informal process.

One thought to inspire other teachers to succeed
Use your imagination to inspire your students, show them the connection of your classroom to their world and help them discover the fun of learning new things.

One lesson every student should learn
Question! Question! Question! Students should learn to ask questions about what they learn and where it may lead them in life.

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