Josh Anderson
Kansas Teacher of the Year
Olathe Northwest High School, Olathe
Grades 9-12, Debate, Speech, American Literature

My teaching philosophy
It really does takes a village to raise a child. Today's classrooms are vibrant climates where opportunities for students are limitless, and expectations for teachers are exceedingly high (as well they should be). Yet the teacher cannot go it alone and must rely on his or her colleagues, the parents, and the community to work alongside him or her in the classroom village. Technology is an outstanding tool for creating a virtual village in which invited outsiders have unprecedented access to the classroom.

My philosophy in action
Each week begins with a two-page newsletter emailed to every member of the village, including parents, counselors, coaches, and support staff. The newsletter includes everything a parent or colleague needs to know to support the student outside the classroom – upcoming tests and projects, study guides, assignment logs, and even specific questions for the dinner table to measure growth and assess what "sticks" from each day's lesson. Our gradebook software allows each parent to view grades online instantly and receive progress reports via email. Numerous emails throughout the week make it easy and comfortable for parents to reply whenever they have a question or concern.

It's true that my expectations for myself and for my students are exceedingly high, and their performance in the classroom and on standardized tests proves this – my students have the highest test scores in the state. It is impossible, however, to demand the best from my students unless I provide a support network that ensures that any student who is struggling is identified early and surrounded by other members of the village who are prepared to offer meaningful support because they already know what it's like to live in the village.

My greatest teaching accomplishment
For the past three years, 100% of my students have passed the state writing assessment, and 97% of my students have passed the state reading assessment. More importantly, nearly 15% of these students have had learning disabilities that prevent them from learning in the same way as their peers – yet they continue to overcome these challenges and prove that they are among our brightest students on standardized tests.

The most critical issues facing educators today
The most critical issue facing education today is public confidence in public schools. Contemporary perceptions of public education by many outsiders is, at best, misinformed and, at worst, misanthropic. Legislators, special interest groups, and many in the community feel quite comfortable suggesting that our public schools are broken and cannot be fixed. Their words and actions often undermine the good work that teachers do and sends a clear message to our children that the hard work they do in school is of little value.

Ways to resolve this issue
If it takes a village to raise a child, then teachers must do a better job of bringing the villagers into their classrooms. Creating a transparent classroom that is open to the public makes teachers and students more accountable for their hard work – and costs nothing!

One thought to inspire teachers to succeed
Students will always rise to the level of expectation you set for them, no matter how high you set the bar. Identify your brightest and most creative student, and design your lesson plans so this student, in particular, is challenged and rewarded by the hard work. When the lesson is applied to the whole class, the whole class will respond. Trust me!

One lesson every student should learn
Life is about the other eight hours – the eight hours when you aren't sleeping and aren’t working. The purpose of education is not to prepare you to work or to sleep – it is to prepare you to live in this world and to participate in the human quest for understanding the great mysteries of life.

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