Administrative dean for The Learning Center at Linlee

"One of my favorite quotes is 'If not us… who? If not now, when?' With 21 years behind me as an educator in various settings, never has it been clearer the awesome task we have in engaging our students in high-level learning in a fast-moving world. After all, we are in competition with technology that provides access to a world of information – good and bad – in nanoseconds. The thing teachers have to offer and should not be overlooked is the human aspect that technology cannot provide. Simply put, we need to slow down and take time to get to know our kids and form sincere, caring relationships. When kids know we care about them, they are more eager to learn from us. Simultaneously, we need to actively engage our students by offering rigorous content that is meaningful to their everyday lives and to their future aspirations in the way they learn best. If we start with a caring relationship and make content real and engaging, then academic growth will follow."