Kim Schaefer
Utah Teacher of the Year
Whitehorse High School, Montezuma Creek
Grades 7-12, Music

My teaching philosophy
I believe the deepest learning occurs when students have a reason to apply knowledge and skills to real-life situations. I believe a child learns best when he or she is ready to learn. I think of learning as a spiral – the learner is constantly reviewing previously acquired information while approaching new information.

My philosophy in action
The learning experiences I design involve real audience members listening to performances where students need to make some eye contact and speak independently. In a culture where this is not the norm for junior high and high school students, music students are building confidence and self-esteem.

When students are ready, I am available (before school, after school, on weekends, and during the winter / summer breaks). I also design learning experiences to allow for student-paced learning.

My greatest teaching accomplishment
My greatest accomplishment is growing a quality band program where the level of student achievement is rising. My students begin a year later – in the 7th grade – than the average 6th grade beginner, and come to me with little music knowledge or skills and low reading and math skills. My students often live in financially poor environments. I accept students at current skill levels and help them to learn more than they thought possible. My students used all of their potentials and earned a Superior-minus rating at the 2006 State Concert Band Festival, the highest rating ever earned by our school at State!

The most critical issues facing educators today
The critical issue in public education is student engagement. There is an increasing number of children who act out in school, disconnect from learning, or who fail to make academic progress. Some students may already perceive that they are in school only for the purpose of fulfilling the school’s requirements. These students are becoming disengaged and are preparing to rebel against the school system.

Ways to resolve these issues
Public recognition is one path to student engagement. Displays of projects, performances, and presentations are considered “real-life” and authentic learning. Real-life learning requires active thinking and problem solving; it provides the opportunity for young people to use their knowledge and skills NOW. Real-life learning could involve the creation of a community history collection: which could include the interview of elders and written and illustrated stories, bound for display at a community center or library. Science classes could study the trash trends in the community by using data collection techniques and graphing the information. Young people could present the trends to the community and offer solutions to conserve both energy and materials. As a result of real-life learning, young people will be better thinkers and problem solvers because they are calling upon deep structure knowledge and integrating new academic concepts while serving in their community.

One thought to inspire teachers to succeed
An active mind can find the possibilities in any situation.

One lesson every student should learn
How to show respect for self, others, and things.

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