|
|
|
Janet
Heck,
Excellence in Beginning Teaching
 Plano
West Senior High School
Communications Applications
Philosophy
of Teaching
Educational/Professional
Background
Philosophy of Teaching
One of the main goals of a teacher is to incite an enduring enthusiasm
linked to the unending acquisition of knowledge.
Education is the fuel of the mind; it is synonymous
with “living”,
in the fullest sense of the word. It energizes our
mind, ignites and compels our curiosity, adds richness
and texture to our lives, broadens our dimensions
of humanity, deepens our empathy and molds our responses
to mankind with tolerance and wisdom.
Education is a life-long endeavor, a necessary component in each individual’s
evolution toward being the best person they can be:
mind, body and spirit. It is an exciting privilege
to be an educator of young adults, so full of dichotomies;
confident, self-assured and capable, yet so insecure,
vulnerable and doubtful. It is important that I be
knowledgeable and well prepared in my subject area,
to be less would be a disservice to my students.
Even more important is genuine compassion for and
interest in each student as an individual.
As a teacher, I have a small
window
of opportunity to impart information, guide the
development of a foundation of ethics, encourage
exploration of uniqueness, and facilitate acceptance
and appreciation of self and others. I believe young
people are intuitive about caring. When they sense
they are cared for, they respond positively. An experience
with a student during my first semester of teaching,
reinforced this belief. I assumed responsibility
for my class at the beginning of the second six weeks.
A male foreign student, new to the U.S. and struggling
to master English, had failed the first six weeks,
sleeping through the majority of class time.
By developing a relationship
with that student based on support, consistency,
reasonable expectations, and accommodations, he was
able to become a productive member of class and end
the semester with a 73 average. In conclusion, educators
need to be compassionate, intelligent, resourceful,
and energetic in order to serve as inspiring role
models for students and be worthy of their time.
Educational
/ Professional Background
Professional Profile
Enthusiastic about preparing
secondary students for their transition into adulthood
using a unique
combination of education experience coupled with
ten years of professional counseling experience.
- Masters
Degree in Counseling and Guidance and Bachelors Degree
in Secondary
Education
- Dedicated to enthusiastic and dynamic
teaching as a means of creating and nurturing a
lifelong love of knowledge in young adults
- Experienced
in substance abuse counseling, and individual,
marital, family, and group
therapy
Education and Certifications
- M.A. Counseling and
Guidance
University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, ND. 1977
- B.A.
in Secondary Education
Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, 1973 Major:
English Minor: Speech Communication
Provisional Certifications
- TX State Secondary Education.
2004
Key Qualifications
- Formal education in secondary
education and group and individual counseling of
adolescents
- Plan and instruct each subject area
using wide variety of teaching aids, motivational,
and implementation strategies to engage students
in active learning
- Incorporate learning modality
principles into classroom and individual instruction.
Implement
real
life approaches to subject material.
- Research educational
resources on the Internet. Supplement with real
life information, classroom
situations, and clinical experience
Experienced Educator and Counselor
- Provided group
and individual counseling at an Inpatient Chemical
Dependency Unit for
Adolescents, during the evaluation and treatment
phases. Managed outpatient caseloads in Mental
Health and Substance Abuse facilities, providing
individual, marital, family and group counseling.
Received training in Family Therapy from the
Philadelphia Child Guidance Clinic. Supervised
psychology and nursing students in practicum;
experienced diverse on-call situations with
a 24 hour crisis line. Conducted Assertiveness
Training workshops.
- Computer Skills
· Software: MS Word, Excel, Power Point, Exchange Outlook,
and QuickBooks Pro
· Working knowledge of the Internet
Employment
- Teacher, Plano West Senior High School,
TX, Speech Comm, September 2004 to present
- Substitute
Teacher, Plano West Senior High School, Plano,
TX, September 2001 to September 2004
- Marketing Coordinator, Connie Podesta
(Educational/Motivational Speaker), Plano, TX,
October 1996 – August 2000
- Substance Abuse
Therapist, AOS Inc. Outpatient Substance Abuse
Treatment Center, Grand Rapids, MI, June 1981 – July
1986
- Executive
Director, Harbor Homes Inc. Ashlar House, Crisis
Home, Grand Rapids, MI,
- March 1981 – June
1981
- Therapist, Golden Valley Health Center, Inpatient
Chemical Dependency Unit for Adolescents, Golden
Valley, MN, July 1980 – January
1981
- Therapist, Army Community Drug and Alcohol
Assistance Center, U.S. Civil Service, Garlstedt,
Germany, March 1979 – June 1980
- Substitute
Teacher, DODDSEUR, District III, Bremerhaven, Germany
Elementary School, Bremerhaven, Germany, October
1977 – March
1979
- Mental Health Worker, Center for Human Development,
Northeast Mental Health Center, Grand Forks, ND,
September 1975 – June
1977
- Receptionist/Teller, First National Bank,
Grand Forks AFB, Grand Forks, ND, March
1974 – September 1975
- Substitute Teacher,
North Dakota Public Schools, Grand Forks, ND, September
1973 - March 1974
|
|
