What is the most exciting initiative happening in education today?

     Q:  What is the most exciting initiative happening in education today?
     A:   For me, the most exciting initiative is the emphasis on Differentiated Instruction.  I know that DI is a way of teaching that relies on a toolbox robust enough to provide different learning pathways to a wide range of learners.  I cannot say, for example, “I taught it, so they must have gotten it.”  What is critical for me is knowing the essential curriculum and the individual learners; plus developing the wisdom to know which developmentally appropriate strategy to use with whom.  The challenge for me is to learn, and be able to use, a repertoire of strategies that will make a difference in each and every student’s learning.

            Talk to your former professors.  Read the latest journals.  Consult with area teachers.  Know what is happening in education…not yesterday, but today.  And then, show how you will address that initiative in your own classroom.

FROM THE PRINCIPAL’S DESK:      “If I ask ‘Is there anything else you’d like to tell me?’ I’m always impressed when a candidate – in two minutes or less – can effectively summarize the basic interview theme: matching his or her qualifications to my school’s needs.”