Susanne Bechtold
Alberta Teacher of the Year
National Sport School, Calgary
Grade 9-11, Humanities and Social Studies

My teaching philosophy
To create a learning environment that invites students to investigate the important issues of our time and gives them the opportunity to acquire skills and proficiencies necessary in a knowledge era.

My philosophy in action
To design robust inquiries that center around important issues that students should care about. Students are given meaningful and engaging work; they are challenged to reach beyond their present limits of understanding. Whenever possible they are given the opportunity to use technology in new and creative ways and/or to work with experts.

My greatest teaching accomplishment
2005 Excellence in Teaching Award.

The most important issues facing educators today
To prepare students for a world that is in crisis, in a climate of fatalistic pessimism and pervasive cynicism.

Ways to resolve this issue
To create learning environments which are transformative. Through inquiry based learning, students can be challenged to stretch their intellectual and imaginative abilities, to acquire the skills and proficiencies that they need in a knowledge era, and to become creative thinkers, leaders and activists who are compassionate, committed to positive change, and have the courage to act.

One thought to inspire teachers to succeed
"He who dares to teach must never cease to learn."
Richard Henry Dann

One lesson every student should learn
"Human beings will have to develop a greater sense of universal responsibility. Each of us must learn to work not just for his or her own self, family or nation, but for the benefit of all mankind. "
The Dalai Lama, 1994

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