Dear Cavalier Teachers, Students, Parents, and Families,
It takes a lot to be a good student these days. And the more I talk with some students, I realize that for them, the practice of teaching is a mystery. But it shouldn’t be. Each time a student enters a classroom, they should know what they are going to learn. It should be crystal clear. There should be a stated goal or objective, and the activities they do in class should lead to and clarify the learning.
When students don’t know what they are supposed to learn and are unclear about the lesson’s objective, they don’t know how to ask for help if they need it. If students are just doing … that is, completing worksheets or projects … without knowing why, they are not necessarily learning.
What students should know and be able to do is the point of curriculum and instruction. At Kennedy, we are focused on the practice of high quality teaching as a part of our school improvement plan. And in honor of teachers who exemplify excellent teaching, I want to acknowledge our recent National Board Certified teachers.
Ms. Katie Beckett, Academy Coordinator: Ms. Beckett has taught in MCPS for 7 years. She also taught abroad in Latin America for 5 years, across a range of subjects in middle and high school. Ms. Beckett believes that there should be something in school for every student to connect to.
Dr. Lara Kohler, Science-Biology: Dr. Kohler earned National Board Certification in Adolescence and Young Adulthood Science (Biology). Dr. Kohler earned a BS in Biology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison; she earned her PhD in Microbiology from Yale University.
Dr. Kohler is originally from the San Francisco Bay Area. She also served in the Peace Corps, where she served as a secondary math and science teacher in Barsalogho, Burkina Faso. She worked in scientific research for almost 10 years, and her work has been cited hundreds of times. Dr. Kohler has been at Kennedy for six years, and in her own words, “I love working with our students!”
Ms. Erin Velzeboer: Social Studies. Ms. Velzeboer earned her National Board Teacher Certification in Adolescent and Young Adult Social Studies. She has been teaching for sixteen years in a variety of locations, including Egypt and the Democratic Republic of Congo, and joined the Kennedy team two years ago. Ms. Velzeboer is a self-described history nerd who loves to learn about the past. History was actually her least favorite class in high school, so she works hard to make sure students see beyond the "dates and dead people" to the stories that are relevant to the world today. We celebrate Ms. Velzeboer as a wonderful and dedicated instructor, committed to bringing meaning and impact to her students each day.
Ms. Shamecca S. Williams: English Language Arts. Ms. Williams achieved National Board Teacher Certification in Adolescence and Young Adulthood: English. Originally from Brooklyn, NY, Ms. Williams has a B.A. in English from Georgetown University and an M.A. in English from Howard University.
Ms. Williams has worked in MCPS for 15 of her 22 years of teaching, with experience teaching elementary and middle school in Washington, D.C. She firmly believes in meeting students where they are and increasing students' confidence to step outside their comfort zones to reach their academic and personal goals.
To become Board Certified means to dedicate yourself to and understand teaching, how what we do translates into learning. We plan and analyze, monitor and reflect. And National Board teachers do this again and again, always searching for the best way to support student learning. In addition to the four teachers detailed here, Ms. Jennifer Lamb and Ms. Stacey Wahrman, both of the English Department, Ms. Stephanie Pasternak, Special Education, and Mr. Lane Jefferson, World Languages, are also Board Certified.
Thank you to all of our teachers–but especially to our NBCTs–for their dedication and advocacy. We are making amazing strides at Kennedy, and it is because of such wonderful teachers. They deserve congratulations and recognition for being outstanding in their field.
So students, remember to attend all classes, know what you are learning, and take advantage of the teachers who are working hard to lay the foundation for your future. We have some very talented teachers at JFK, and we want everyone to know it!
