Vicki Lynn Goldsmith
Iowa Teacher of the Year
National Teacher of the Year Finalist
Theodore Roosevelt High School, Des Moines, IA
Grade 12, Literature, Women’s Studies, Theory of Knowledge

My teaching philosophy
I believe that education should go beyond facts and information or job training and transform a human being, enabling him or her to live a richer, fuller life, to understand the connection between us and our world.

My philosophy in action
I use as much experiential activity as possible to engage students in learning with their minds, bodies, and imaginations. They need to know how to relate to and listen to each other, how to tolerate and respect others' beliefs, so we spend a lot of time listening to each other. We practice writing clear responses to what we read; we look closely at what our culture is telling and selling us.

My greatest teaching accomplishment
Connecting to individual students is my greatest accomplishment. I work hard to encourage each person's skills and talents and to see something worth nurturing in each person.

The most critical issues facing educators today
Our culture is racing at a pace that is discouraging focus and attention on huge questions. The media presents an over stimulating, over sexualized, hyped message that sabotages our efforts to get young people to examine what is worth being and doing.

Ways to resolve this issue
We need to face the issue in classes, look at the multitasking we do, examine the motives of politicians and advertisers, spend at least some time daily being quiet and alone. We need to ask whether a new development in technology, for instance, is a real improvement in the quality of our lives or just a change.

One thought to inspire teachers to succeed
Pay attention to each student one at a time, and keep your passion for your subject.

One lesson every student should learn
Answer the questions,"What is worth doing? Knowing? Becoming?"

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