Hello Future Teachers!

Congratulations! You have just taken your first step toward utilizing an
amazing facility created solely for your benefit as a UCI student with an
interest in teaching. Yes, we are talking about “Teachers of Tomorrow.” We
are a free club focused on all of the topics that often interest future
teachers. “Teachers of Tomorrow” is available as a support system and as a
means of gaining information and experience to start you on your way to
becoming a teacher. Please explore our website and feel free to contact us
via e-mail if you have any questions. We hope to see everybody at our upcoming meetings!

Best Regards,

Your 07-08 Officers:
Tera Perry
Elizabeth Yu
Melissa Silverman
Rachel Holland
Judith Vasquez

Teacher of the Year, Dawna Countryman, visits DOE

The Teachers of Tomorrow (TOT) club was very privileged to host Dawna Countryman, 2007 California Teacher of the Year, on February 5th. While taking a year out of the classroom to pursue further study and work with underperforming schools, Countryman gave the students present a snapshot of her life and experiences in education.

From the outset, Countryman focused her attention on TOT members. "I'm all about your success and achievement. I am here to root you on to pursue your dreams." She urged the future teachers present to "create an environment in your classrooms conducive to learning that is rigorously academic." She stressed, "If you teach the standards your students will do well on standardized tests."

Rarely behind her podium, Dawna Countryman emphasized connecting with students. "Teachers need to connect with all their students. Young people need great mentors, not teachers who will break them down and discourage them." She modeled how teachers can quickly establish rapport and get to know something personal about each student. "You're studying French? Let's have lunch and talk about French. Now we have something going here."

Growing up in a series of "chaotic" situations and changing schools sometimes two or three times a year, Countryman found the stability she craved in the teachers who supported her in every way imaginable, from clothes and shoes for cheerleading to having faith in her abilities and helping with her successful application to UCLA. As future teachers, Countryman urged audience members to, "Empower your students so they can be successful."

In the "darker part of her talk," according to TOT member Brian Quon, Countryman discussed her recent visit to a failing Washington D.C. school. Only 4% of the predominantly first-year teachers who opened the school in September remained. "Many of the boys do not expect to live beyond their sixteenth birthday. The girls share the ultrasound images of their babies in the hallways." She told the audience about "hall-walkers" who attend school but never go into class. Countryman asked herself, "Could I be effective in that environment?"

Returning to her theme of connecting with students, Countryman urged the future teachers to know their students beyond what their textbooks relate and "take students where they need to go." She reiterated, "Make the school experience positive and powerful." Having answered general questions from the audience, Dawna Countryman remained to respond to every individual question, urging club members to contact her in the future "if there is anything I can do."

For more information about the Teachers of Tomorrow club at UCI, contact the officers at teachersoftomorrow@uci.edu.