Teaching is a colorful field that is always evolving for Sadie Curtis Primary School Teacher of the Year, Sharon Williams. Between encountering new students with different personalities and meeting the challenges in the education system there isn't a year she doesn't go on a new adventure in her field.
After almost 20 years in the classroom, the general knowledge teacher has taught at each spectrum of primary level grades, and even ventured into teaching seventh grade for a brief stint when graduated students at her former school T.G. Glover Primary had nowhere to go due to overcrowding in nearby junior schools.
Despite difficulties and setbacks, she says she wouldn't give up her everyday experiences for anything. And no matter how things are changing she believes she has always been destined to teach. It's a feeling she says that has not waned throughout the years. Even now she is so dedicated to assisting her students in realizing their full potential and jumping headfirst into the newest adventure that she has willing entered a new area in her career -- administration.
Q. What made you transition from a 19-year career in the classroom to administration?
A. I am currently a senior assistant, a post just below senior mistress. Although I love the classroom, I felt I was a bit confined because there were more programs I wanted to be a part of and get my students involved in -- especially the boys. For a time I did try to do what I could, but being a classroom teacher and having other responsibilities doesn't lend itself well in doing all I wanted. Being in administration now for about a year I was able to spearhead two clubs. I established the first Boys' Club at Sadie Curtis School so we can have male role models from the community come in to speak to our boys who are at risk. We noticed some discipline issues in our society and schools and felt that in many cases it was due to the male lacking in the home. So we had police officers, pastors and other male influences in our communities come in. I was also able to work with the Royal Bahamas Defence Force Rangers at our school. That was the first time ever and it was really successful. Being in administration really allows me to reach farther and influence more students beyond just those in my personal class.
Q. What makes you a good teacher?A. What makes a good teacher is to first of all be knowledgeable about the content you are talking about. You also have to have a passion for what you do. I do not consider this just another job or another paycheck. I always seek to better the last lesson I taught and to make what I teach more applicable and easy for my students to understand. A good teacher would be someone who has a great listening ear and can look at students as individuals in front of them who need their help and love and not just a paycheck. You have to genuinely be concerned about the well-being of the students and let it show.
Q. In a society where you are not allowed to punish students by spanking, as a teacher, how do you enforce discipline effectively?A. I think most people have the impression that discipline is beating or spanking and in our school, in particular, that is not what we do here. Instead of speaking to, or showcasing the negative, we highlight the positive. Week before last, we just celebrated leaders of excellence where we highlight one student of each class who proves he or she is well-behaved, proactive and does not need the teacher there all the time to maintain good habits. This has worked well in getting those who are not as well-behaved to feel that they can work hard to be the next leader in the upcoming assembly. We make such a big deal of being well-behaved and being a leader of excellence, we invite the parents, take pictures and give out certificates so that students aim to do better. We also have a classroom management plan where students start off with a yellow card and get a different colored card throughout the day if they misbehave. If they end up with a red card by the end of the day they are sent to the office or their parents are called in depending on what is happening. On the other hand, many of the things we do we make it into a challenge or competition so students take pride in themselves and work hard to make their groups proud of them. This has really worked in keeping the students working positively and disciplined for the most part. So really, when there is a need to beat a student it has to be a major deal.
Q. What should parents be doing to help their children become excellent students?
A. The number one thing I believe parents should be doing is spending more time with their children. They need to go over the homework and assignments more with their kids and even just sitting and talking is important. Let them know what they expect and that they care, [and] keeping in touch with their teachers as much as possible too. Our major problem in almost any school is parental involvement. At Sadie Curtis, we are a school of almost 1,000 students and at our last Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) meeting, although we had about 150 parents who showed up that's only about 20 percent of the parents. That speaks volumes. We want our kids to be the best, but if you are not aware of what they are doing or struggling with, you can't help them as well as you should. Teachers can only do so much because we need the support of the parents to make our efforts go even further.
Q. What changes would you make to the education system if you had a chance to?
A. Making more programs to help more established teachers transition better in this technological global society is something that could be done. Because things are changing so much from year-to-year, many teachers are a bit skeptical about what they are being asked to do. There are so many new technologies out there and things are not the same like in our grandparents' time where a little went a long way. Many of us are not trained in these new areas but being knowledgeable in them is necessary because we have to do what we must to keep our students' attention. However, many teachers have been in the system so long they are comfortable in their own methods and find it difficult to change and adjust. So in time, I would hope that the Ministry [of Education] can provide some programs to assist teachers in using technologies so they can be more effective in the classroom.
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