Andee Alceves wasn't the kid who always dreamed of being a teacher, nor was she the perfect student. In fact, she was the student teachers talked about, as in, "I wish that kid wasn't in my class". Now that Ms. Alceves is a teacher, she gets kids in ways that other educators do not. The skeptical, edgy kids are not necessarily kids who don't want to learn or succeed in school, rather in many cases, they are kids with a host of issues that have nothing to do with school, but school is the place they are trying to sort them out. These are kids who are growing up in difficult, un-supportive environments, who do no have the love and encouragement that many strong learners do. Ms. Alceves was the recipient of the 2008 California Teacher of the Year award. And one can see why she deserved to be recognized. One parent calls her "a differecne maker". Her high energy, enthusiasm, and never say never attitude has won her accolades from students, parents, and other educators. Alceves celebrates her third graders for all that they are, not just the shiny polished bits, but the parts that may be more difficult and challenging too.
Andee Alceves wasn't the kid who always dreamed of being a teacher, nor was she the perfect student. In fact, she was the student teachers talked about, as in, "I wish that kid wasn't in my class". Now that Ms. Alceves is a teacher, she gets kids in ways that other educators do not. The skeptical, edgy kids are not necessarily kids who don't want to learn or succeed in school, rather in many cases, they are kids with a host of issues that have nothing to do with school, but school is the place they are trying to sort them out. These are kids who are growing up in difficult, un-supportive environments, who do no have the love and encouragement that many strong learners do. Ms. Alceves was the recipient of the 2008 California Teacher of the Year award. And one can see why she deserved to be recognized. One parent calls her "a differecne maker". Her high energy, enthusiasm, and never say never attitude has won her accolades from students, parents, and other educators. Alceves celebrates her third graders for all that they are, not just the shiny polished bits, but the parts that may be more difficult and challenging too.