4th grade teacher, William Wells Brown Elementary

"College taught me to teach, but my students have made me a teacher. Along with the methods, strategies and models, a teacher must build relationships with her students. Children sense sincerity, concern and honesty. In order to want to learn and to be receptive to the methods, material and content presented to them, students must feel genuine caring and true connections. Teacher-student bonds build academic and social confidence. Teachers need to tap a desire to succeed in their students by not only supporting them academically, but also by developing  and nurturing these important relationships."