Gloria Voutos
Texas Teacher of the Year
Spring Valley Elementary School, Richardson, TX
K-6, all subjects

My teaching philosophy
Every student deserves access to the best education available to them. We as teachers need to prepare and train to edify the new generations of technology savvy children in order to provide a challenging presentation that will further their inquisitiveness.

My philosophy in action
During classroom instruction, I provide possible alternatives to address the diverse learning styles. I use plenty of visual cues and opportunities for students to express their mastery of the content areas. I also partner with the rest of the faculty (art, music, physical education and librarian) to enrich and integrate their learning in every area.

My greatest teaching accomplishment
Being able to bring the classroom experiences to the apartments or student's home and include parents (who otherwise would not be able to participate) in the learning process of their children.

The most critical issues facing educators today
The most critical issue is the cultural and language barriers that prevent students from communicating effectively with their parents. When schools stop at three in the afternoon, we loose valuable enrichment time that should include the home as an integral component that furthers the students’ appreciation for education.

Ways to resolve this issue
More teachers training in areas such as: parental involvement, language acquisition and development, parent education.

One thought to inspire teachers to succeed
I remember the days after the lives of my only sister and niece were taken away by her husband and how I went grief stricken back to the classroom. The children embraced me and told me that everything would be alright. I could not help but looking at their smiles and feeling overwhelmed with joy and then I knew that on the worst day of my life, their smiles made all the difference.

One lesson every student should learn
Learning is not only school, learning is life.

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