ALPHA DELTA KAPPA DECEMBER 2010 - Gedung Kuning

Jane Callery, right, works with students during a field study on campus
through seniors in high school
I have continued to be a student
myself, seeking out professional
development opportunities that
broadened my world so that I
would have more to offer my students.
A graduate class on brain
research theory turned into a
learning styles unit for my high
school freshmen. Traveling as
a teacher leader with People
to People High School Student
Ambassadors brought the King
Arthur stories (our high school
mascot is a Knight) to life after
we toured “Merlin’s Mine.” A
study tour to Greece inspired me
to have my sophomores write
and perform their own Greek
tragedies.
My involvement in professional
organizations has led
to leadership roles that also
enhanced my teaching ability.
Every time I have attended
a conference, convention, or
workshop I have been able to
take away something I needed to
know or do to make my classroom,
my school, or my English
Department a better place to be.
But school isn’t only about
the classroom. I believe Alpha
Delta Kappa’s mission, “. . .
dedicated to excellence, altruism
and world understanding,” has
been a metaphor for my teaching
career. I believe in honoring
the values of the organizations
to which I offer my time and
abilities. Thus, when one of my
students asked me to become
the Students for Peace Club
sponsor I agreed. Over the past my garden, thrilled to have just
10 years Students for Peace received a contract for my first
has contributed over $15,000 teaching position. I was dream-
to world peace initiatives such ing about who my students
as UNICEF, Doctors Without would be and what I would do
Borders, Seeds of Peace and in the coming year to get them
Free the Children (an organiza- to LOVE learning just as much
tion that I was introduced to as I do. I received a call from
through Alpha Delta Kappa). someone I would learn from and
The students plan, organize and know as a most compassionate
direct a benefit variety show and teacher, future teammate, ADK
art auction.
sister and dearest friend. She
When I received the United called to welcome me into the
States-Eurasia Award for Excel- teaching profession, and as we
lence in Teaching and had the made plans to meet and start
opportunity to spend a month planning the year, I knew I had
in schools in Kazakhstan, it met someone who treasures the
was a highlight of my teaching teaching profession as much as
career. I learned that students I do. Sixteen years later, we still
and teachers all over the world engage in passionate discussions
are striving for excellence, and about what is best for kids and
that teenage students are pretty what we can do to support new
much the same whether they are teachers as they learn how to
in Rudny, Kazakhstan or Lincoln, create classrooms that engage
Nebraska.
children in the joy of discovery
When a group of Kazak high and learning.
school students asked me “How I faced many obstacles on
does it feel to be from the most the road to fulfilling my dream of
powerful country in the world?” becoming a teacher, but when I
I replied that I had never really was in the classroom surround-
thought about that before, but ed by all those wonderful faces I
I have come to believe that the knew I had reached heaven and
foundation of our nation’s power I wanted to learn even more.
is the American educational sys- I led the development of an
tem. In our schools we attempt inquiry-based science program
to reach and teach every stu- for a new science and technoldent,
from the most challenged ogy magnet school, encouraged
to the most gifted.
parent involvement in monthly
Northeast Region field studies with students and
Jane Callery
annual Super Saturday Family
Connecticut Alpha Chapter Science and Math events. Soon
I can remember the day late I found myself working in many
in June when I was working in classrooms; facilitating Ø
Educational Excellence in Action
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