Carol
Bulino,
Excellence in Teaching Awardee
 Beverly
Elementary School
Literacy Specialist
Philosophy
of Teaching
Educational/Professional
Background
School
Principal Comments
Philosophy of Teaching
The smile on the face, the glint in the eye of the child who realizes
he has unlocked the key to an unknown skill or concept,
that is the essence of teaching
and the reward that all teachers cherish. Oliver Wendell Holmes said, “One’s
mind, once stretched by a new idea, never regains it original dimensions.” As
educators we are charged with stretching the minds of our students and instilling
in them a lifelong love of learning. I believe that we can reach that goal
by providing a safe learning environment, having a passion for our job, and
being a master of our content area.
The success of each student depends on
the teacher. I believe that each child can be successful and that it is up
to me to provide the environment that will
allow each child to soar. My classroom is a safe haven. I model respect, trust,
and tolerance. I always find ways to praise children for their attempts at
reading or writing. Some of the students I work with
are fragile. They have struggled
in the classroom. It is especially important to make the children I work with
feel empowered to learn and to feel good about their successes. I constantly
monitor and adjust my strategies to fit the needs of each child, and by doing
so, share in the excitement as my students discover the power of their own
accomplishments. When a student knows you care, you
are halfway to success.
A good teacher is a role model and eager eyes
watch our every move. When we
show our passion for learning and teaching, we are giving our students a gift.
Passion
is one of the most important qualities in a teacher. It breeds enthusiasm and
is infectious. When teachers show their passion and excitement, we are teaching
our students much more than the curriculum. As Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “Nothing
was ever achieved without enthusiasm.” Students deserve to have a teacher
who can instill in them the desire to learn and a hunger for knowledge.
Inspiring
teachers have a positive relationship with their students and their students’ parents.
It is important for teachers to show that we value parental input into the
child’s education. They were, after all, the first teachers
the child knew. Our effectiveness in the classroom depends on our mutual
respect and trust. Teachers who keep parents informed and ask for their support
strengthen
the home and school partnership.
Producing lifelong learners is a goal of
our profession. In order to produce lifelong learners, we must be committed
to being lifelong learners ourselves.
We must constantly keep abreast of current trends, new strategies, and
be able to adapt to the ever changing demands made
by state and national accountabilities.
In my position as a Literacy Specialist, I have so many opportunities to
fulfill
my desire to learn and improve. The district provides training that enables
me to grow professionally. I share what I learn with a school full of lifelong
learners.
I am fortunate to work with many outstanding teachers
at Beverly who share their expertise and passion
for learning with their students. I learn as
much from
these excellent teachers and the students they teach as I hope they learn
from my training and experience.
Children are born with a powerful desire
to learn. Everything we do as teachers and parents
should ensure that desire is kept alive. By nurturing
this desire,
we will be sending lifelong learners into the world to make their way
with confidence.
Educational
/ Professional Background
University Degrees
- University of North Texas – Bachelor
of Science - 1970
- University of North Texas – Masters
in Early Childhood - 1973
Certifications
- Kindergarten 1971
- Gifted and Talented 1980
- Reading Recovery 1999
- English as a Second Language-
pending 2005
Employment History
- Literacy Specialist 2002-present
- Reading Recovery/PASP
1998-2002
- Beverly Elementary School, PISD
- SIGS PISD Summer
School for Gifted and Talented 1994-present
- PACE
Itinerant Teacher 1979-1998 One of two teachers
to implement Gifted Program in PISD
- Second Grade
Teacher 1976-1979
Hughston Elementary School, PISD
- Third Grade Teacher
1971-1976
- Third Grade Team Leader 1973-1976
- Kindergarten/First
Grade Multi-Age Class 1970-1971
John Neely Bryan Elementary, DISD
Staff Development
- Presentations Given
Beverly Elementary, PISD:
Fourth Grade Reading Academy Training Jan. 2005
Six Traits of Writing Inservice Nov. 2004
TAKS Analysis Inservice Oct. 2004
Writing Inservice with TAKS Analysis Aug. 2004
TAKS Analysis Inservice Sept. 2003
Dyslexia Identification Inservice Aug. 2003
Balanced Literacy Approach Inservice Aug. 2002
Campus Assessment Team Procedures/Intervention
Strategies Sept. 1998
- Gifted and Talented Inservices Presented at the
Local and State Level:
Odyssey of the Mind Coaches and Judges Yearly Training
1995-1998
Texas Future Problem Solving State Judge 1992-1996
Differentiation for Gifted Students 1995-1997
Problem Solving Inservice- TAGT State Conference
1989
- Right/Left Brain Research, Richland College 1983
- TWU
Teacher Training for Gifted Education 1980-1982
-Assisted Dr. John McFarland in District Training
- Training Completed
Best Practices ESL 2005
-Presented by Region X
Literacy Specialist District Monthly Trainings
2002-present
-Presented by Curriculum Staff
Plano’s Accelerated Reading Grades 4 and
5 2004
-Presented by Dr. Duke
Plano’s Accelerated Reading Grades K-3
2003
-Presented by Dr. Duke
Writing Strategies 2003
-Presented by Lucy Caulkins
Guided Reading and Writing 2003
-Presented by Gay Su Pinnell
Dyslexia Identification 2002
-Presented by Region X
Herman Method of Reading 1998
Curriculum Alignment and Integration 1998
-Presented by Margaret Kilgo
Professional Associations and Campus Committees
- Mentor
Liaison, Beverly Elementary
- Campus Assessment
Team, Beverly Elementary
- Dyslexia Coordinator,
Beverly Elementary
- Language Arts Vertical Team
Co-Chair, Beverly Elementary
- Association of Texas
Professional Educators
- Delta Kappa Gamma; International
Honorary Sorority for Women Educators
- Alpha Delta
Kappa; International Honorary Sorority for Women
-Sergeant of Arms
Beverly Parent Teacher Association
Awards
- Beverly Teacher of the Year 2005
- Texas Future
Problem Solving Coach of the Year 1990
- Excellence
in Teaching- John Neely Bryan; DISD 1974
School
Principal's Recommendation
It is my pleasure to recommend Carol Bulino as
a candidate for the 2005 PISD Teacher of the Year.
Mrs. Bulino has been a teacher for PISD since 1976.
I first worked with her in 1980 when I became a PACE
Specialist. At that time, Mrs. Bulino mentored me
in this new position. In 1982 I went to Thomas Elementary
as principal where Mrs. Bulino was the PACE Specialist.
We have continued to work together until the present,
which makes this the twenty-fifth year of our professional
relationship. Carol Bulino is truly a teacher in
her heart. During the sixteen years we spent at Thomas,
I watched her challenge and motivate the students
in the gifted program. She would be as excited as
the students when involved in a project with them.
She was always the advocate for the student with
the classroom teacher. In 1998, when I opened Beverly,
I asked Carol to come to the new school as the Reading
Recovery teacher. She took on this new challenge
with a commitment that was inspiring to watch. I
asked her to totally change her position and teaching
strategies, and she did it with enthusiasm. She worked
with children in first grade who were unable to learn
to read in the classroom. She taught them to have
the confidence to read and they were successful.
It may be hard to believe, but by the age of six,
a child can lose the confidence to try to learn to
read. Mrs. Bulino treats every child with respect
and dignity.
She has worked magic at Beverly with
the struggling student. Years later, parents continue
to thank me for the successes their children have
had with Carol Bulino. In 2002, her job and responsibilities
changed again.
Mrs. Bulino became the Literacy Specialist
for Beverly and has continued to show her enthusiasm
for teaching and love of learning as she assumes
new and additional responsibilities for student and
teacher success. She continues to work with struggling
students and develop in them the confidence to achieve.
She believes that all children can learn and she
never gives up on a child.
She will find a way that
she and the classroom teacher can unlock the
mystery of reading for a child. In this new position,
Mrs.
Bulino also works with teams and individual teachers.
She approaches all communications in a positive
and enthusiastic manner.
She is a positive role
model for all of the staff and works side by side
with
each teacher as new district and state initiatives
are implemented. She gives staff training,
analyzes TAKS data with teachers, does before and
after
school
tutoring with students, works with small groups
of students, and helps teachers with student
assessments. Carol Bulino is a major contributor
to student
achievement
and the Exemplary status Beverly has had for
six years.
Mrs. Bulino has taught for thirty-four years, but
she does not know the meaning of the often used term, “teacher
burn-out.” She approaches every day with enthusiasm
for teaching and an excitement in watching children
experience success. She also takes joy in teacher
successes as she mentors new teachers and works with
experienced teachers.
During her long career, Carol
has changed positions and job descriptions. But
because she is a teacher
in her heart, each new position has become a challenge
for her to find new ways to help students learn.
She is a positive role model for the staff. She
believes in the worth of every individual. In twenty-five
years, I have never heard her make one negative
comment
about a student, parent, or teacher.
She incorporates
quiet dignity and respect into all student, teacher,
and parent relationships. I believe that we need
to recognize teachers that have joyfully devoted
their careers to teaching children. Carol Bulino
has had the dedication and courage to continue
to learn and redefine her responsibilities for
student learning over her remarkable career. She
would
be
an inspiring role model for all district teachers
as the PISD Teacher of the Year.
Liz Kirby, Principal
Beverly Elementary
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