This week we find out who is the 2020 Florida blue Duval County teacher of
the year. Any words of this
Friday and all this week we
want to introduce you to the 5
finalists this year. Today meet
Michael have.
>> And it. And it.
Your keys or Mister yeah, he is being recognized as one of those haha
>> So Michael I mean Mister hair. The visit Matthew Gilbert
middle school they come barging
in your room. What do you
think again. Well that class
and already been interrupted
several times that day so when
they came in I was a
first day.
>> Of set there is yet another
interruption but I realize that
it was quite a good
interruptions I I
my attitude turn around pretty
quickly. I after you have
teacher planning days and you
sit there, you turn them into
the Prince William right.
>> Hey what the heck is going
on here. I’ve got my lesson
plans that you go through.
You are all about raising your
students expectations and
having Frank conversations with
them when you sit down with
them and you do have these
Frank conversations, how are
they received initially
and I think students of firsts
are taken aback by an adult
approaching them and really
expecting to take ownership of
their data, especially at each
6 graders on I’m approaching
1112 year olds.
And giving them the chance to
really understand where they
are why they got there how they
got there what’s needed to move
forward.
So at first the students are I
think pretty shocked but by the
end it’s really empowering
moment because someone telling
them that they believe that
they deserve to know that
they’re capable of knowing if
they’re capable of doing more.
>> And a lot of times these
kids are surrounded by so much
negativity thanks up
the challenge.
>> Absolutely I mean I think
challenge sometimes it when you
pose a challenge you often get
a
challenge back at first and so
it takes is a little bit but by
the end of
our eye. First semester,
generally all my students are
out to the challenge are
actively working every day
and if not by the in the first
semester, especially when we
come back from winter break.
This past these past 2 weeks,
I’ve seen students
really excelling and really
taking ownership because they
nor testers right around the
corner.
>> And some friends who are
teachers I think one of the
biggest challenges for teachers
is that they have parents who
expect the teachers to do all
the teaching getting parents to
buy an is a big challenge for
the teachers too. How do you
get parents to
get motivated and take part in
the whole process absolutely so
the ownership doesn’t stop with
the student, it’s got to be a
partnership between the student
the teacher the families and
so.
>> It starts with
early phone calls home and it
starts with making
sure that parents understand
where their student is what’s
needed and what
how we move forward, it’s it’s
about collaboratively planning
with them to make sure that
everyone’s on the same page.
So that when push comes to
shove and worsening homework
and asking students to do
something are asking you
to stay for tutoring after
school. There’s there’s by in
from every angle
as to why we’re investing in
the students and why we care
because. Like I said I’m a
partner with each of these
parents in we all want what’s
best for their kids so
generally it just it just goes
out
that information, everyone’s
taking ownership and don’t we
also have to make sure that
there’s time for our kids to be
kids to oh absolutely and used
to be fun absolutely needs to
be But.
Having or having fun in class
and taking ownership of where
you’re going those 2 things can
happen at the same time.
It takes a lot of planning
takes a lot of work.
But the joy
and the it the the experience
of joy when a student
understands a new concept for
the first time
in and of itself is so much fun
and really showing those
successes what that looks like
a that’s that’s really how I
try to feel my classroom and
I’m sure that motivates you to
have when they get it good luck
going forward here.
>> So this year’s Emmy awards
will take place this Friday,
January 17th at the Hyatt
Regency downtown and tomorrow
at 8.15 we’ll talk with another
one of the candidates, Leslie