Blog 1-Class Survey

Web Log 1: Class Survey

PERSONAL INFORMATION
1. Lannie Davis, Hudson Ohio, lanniedavis@gmail.com
2. Lannie (Pronounced Annie with an L)
3. Administrator at Julie Billiart School- Located in the South Euclid School System, but JB is a private school for students with special learning needs. I taught there last year, and now am the Assistant Principal.
4. I like music, sports, shopping, and being on the water. (Water skiing, swimming, boating, etc.) I not only work in a "special" school, but I have some pretty "special" qualities as well. I already discussed my onesies that I like to wear quite often, but I also have a high interest in gators. I like to go on "gator hunts" when visiting my family frequently in Florida. I am willing to explain more if anyone reads this and has questions. :)
5. I feel very comfortable in the classroom setting. However, in order to take risks and really dive deeper into new intellectual levels, I need to feel respected and listened to. I am not one that needs others to agree with me, but I do ask that people listen to my stance, as I will always listen to yours/theirs.
6. I am confident in my abilities as a participating student in the classroom. I really enjoy classroom intellectual conversations and hearing different perspectives from others. I am a very responsible person who prepares for class. However, with work and my other life responsibilities, I tend to procrastinate and seem to work better under pressure. I think my most preferred learning style is active learning. I need to discuss things and take an active role in the material being presented. I also do best when I can relate or connect to the curriculum. I am a passionate person and learner. So, when I am interested, connected, and invested in the material, I am more successful. When I do not understand a concept, I usually ask. I like to be challenged, so I often do everything in my power to understand the material first, then ask for help. Overall, I feel like I am a highly resourceful person. If I need or want to find an answer or better understand something, I will.
7. The only thing that would be relevant to this question is that I am a first year administrator. This is relevant because of the long hours and very stressful year I have had thus far. To transition from teaching to administration takes a lot of time and patience. I am still navigating this new path for myself and struggle quite often in my new role. I am not saying that I am unhappy in my position, just simply saying that I am still adapting.
EDUCATION PAST AND PRESENT
8. I had a professor lay me out in class (and after) during my freshman year of college at the University of Dayton. I was talking during her class, and felt like I was in her class and it was MY choice. She asked to speak with me after class and basically laid into me and challenged me to be the student she saw in me immediately. She ended up being my favorite professor EVER and is still a dear friend of mine. I feel like she embodied what I hoped to be as a teacher and a professional. Challenging others to meet their academic and emotional potential.
9. One of my biggest concerns is in the funding of special education. I think there is a lot of misdiagnosis's and funds being utilized in a non-effective and efficient way.
Another issue is the "race to the top" and teaching to the test. I believe this is a huge issue because of what it has done to the nature of education and discovery. Many teachers that got into education feel there has been a major negative swing in the field because of the recent standards based assessments and standards for teachers in the curriculum.
10. I would like to see what curriculum used to look like and who/how it was created. I think a better understanding of how we got to where we are today could be extremely beneficial. Another area in which I feel needs to be addressed is how we believe the curriculum could be changed/adapted to fit our student populations. I also think that with the current changes in education, we need to brainstorm and trouble shoot with how to reach more students with curriculum. The people that originally created the curriculum and created theory is not completely relevant in my opinion. So, I believe that studying the people and history of "why" should not become the focal point of this course.
ABOUT DR. SHUTKIN:
11. What do you do for fun? What do you feel to be the biggest issues (negative) in education today? What is your true passion within the field of education? (Your highest interest area...?)