Key points:
Value and importance of human connection – “relationships” in teaching is immense.
She quoted “All learning is – understanding relationships.”
Kids don’t learn from people they don’t like.
Role of a teacher is to improve self-esteem and academic achievement of the child at the same team.
Speaker:
Rita Pierson, a professional educator since 1972, taught elementary school, junior high and special education. She was a counselor, a testing coordinator and an assistant principal. In each of these roles, she brought a special energy to the role — a desire to get to know her students, show them how much they matter and support them in their growth, even if it was modest.
For the past decade, Pierson conducted professional development workshops and seminars for thousands of educators. Focusing on the students who are too often under-served, she lectured on topics like “Helping Under-Resourced Learners,”“Meeting the Educational Needs of African American Boys” and “Engage and Graduate your Secondary Students: Preventing Dropouts.”