Lafayette High School; sophomore English, humanities & art history

"The greatest gift a teacher can give a student is the ability to function productively beyond the walls of the classroom.  Education is not about the mere acquisition of facts and information, but rather learning to process what is presented into a usable form. We all read to connect with the ideas and beliefs of others, but if we put a book back on the shelf without the ability to use the information we have acquired, then we are merely collecting bound paper.  Students are truly educated when they can walk into the world and apply facts and information to solve, evaluate and confront real problems that confront them in life.  Curriculum is simply a tool to teach students the skills necessary to become valuable members in society, and it is my hope that no child leaves my classroom without a true understanding of what is needed to succeed not only in school, but in the world around them."