2007 Teacher of the Year - Region II

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Region II: Juvenile Justice Teacher of the Year Winner

Scott Sassman

Jacksonville Youth Center, Duval County

Teaching Philosophy Statement

My teaching philosophy is roughly based on, “The Spectrum of Teaching Styles” created by Muska Mosston. Mosston was considered the quintessential Physical Educator by many. This spectrum included several different styles of teaching which included: command, practice, reciprocal, self check, and inclusion styles. Once understanding how each of these styles help mold and shape the variety of learners that entered my gymnasium or classroom, it became a mission to reach as many students as possible. The combination of these styles is the essential road map for anyone willing to stand up to the challenges that lie ahead.

Being the only Sexual Offenders Day Treatment facility in the state of Florida, the job as a sole teacher becomes much more complex. The student’s level of manipulation and their required supervision does not often occur in the standard classroom. When tackling the task of a multi-grade classroom, there is an essential need for a diversity of strategies. Structure seems to be the key to success in the classroom. A variety of rules govern the classroom to maintain order and appoint responsibilities for students to take ownership over their classroom. The behavioral specialist monitors the class order enabling the teacher to maintain high academic learning time. The classroom has been divided into groups based on grade level. At times, certain students are moved into younger or older groups to incorporate peer teaching. This enables the senior students to take on a mentoring role while the younger students learn more mature behaviors from their peers. The school consists of a carpeted classroom that welcomes newcomers with standards, a workshop model, including daily lessons, student rewards, Pledge of Allegiance, and computers on all surrounding walls.

ESE students are provided additional materials, as well as instruction, that aid in the comprehension and retention of information. Reading for the Blind and Deaf (RFBD) which is a digital talking textbook device that places all Duval County Public Schools textbooks on CD were implemented 4 years ago and has truly aided in the advancement of the five components to reading. RFBD was created for the Deaf and Blind but has proven to assist students with exceptionalities.

The “graffiti wall” was an idea that has aided in student vocabulary, recall, retention, and artistic viewpoints. As the class reads each of our novels, certain words that the students do not have in their vocabularies are written on little scratch pieces of paper and placed in the “Fishbowl.” During lunch, students are selected to come forward, select a word from the fishbowl, and attempt to identify any possible root word, define, and use the word in a sentence. If all is answered correctly, the student is given ample time to write or draw and color their word on the 4x12 foot Graffiti Wall outside of the classroom. Once ten terms have been correctly identified, the class is given a vocabulary quiz on the terms.

A selection of 25 teen novels was hand selected by the teacher and our Intensive Reading Coordinator, Doni Parkinson. These books correlate directly with the therapy each student receives on a daily basis. They also produce quality group discussions regarding teen issues. These books touch on topics including abuse, pregnancy, drugs, manipulation, rape, peer pressure, cognitive restructuring, family values, and goals. Each class ends with students completing written summaries and predictions, and how the story relates to their lives.

A variety of community services have been provided by the students over the five and a half years I have been privileged to work as a teacher. An annual chili cook off brings together the staff, students, parents, and probation officers in a day of fun. The American Heart Association allows the students to assist them with their yearly events. The students help with a range of duties including stamping and stuffing envelopes to moving furniture for sponsored races. Our facility is a member of the, “Adopt a Road Program” where the students complete a monthly road clean up in the neighborhood surrounding the facility. Our Community Advisory Board meets at our facility quarterly and included members of the Jacksonville’s Sheriffs Office, State Attorneys Office, Public Defense Office, Duval County Public Schools, and a retired Judge. The board discusses perspectives from each association and how it can better our program and the community.

A representative from Planned Parenthood visits the school each year to educate the students on sexually transmitted diseases. A job training week enables members of the community to visit with the students and explain the requirements of their positions. The students also learn how to fill out applications, write a resume, and through mock interviews, they learn what to expect when applying for a job.

Once the students have completed the requirements for each of the four levels, as well as pass module examinations in group therapy, they are transitioned back in the public school system. Each level includes two modules and takes approximately 2-3 months to complete. This equals an average exit date of 14 months. As a student reaches level four, a meeting is held including the staff, student, parent(s), and probation officer. At this time, the student is given a withdraw packet including the student report cards, schedules, permanent records, ESE or IAP information, and attendance reports. The student is then required to attend relapse prevention group once a week for eight weeks. This enables the students to discuss any concerns or issues that arise during that pervious week of school with both the therapist and teacher.

As the sole General/ESE teacher at the program, it was necessary and beneficial to earn my teaching certifications in Physical Education K-12 (Bachelor of Arts in Kinesiology), ESE K-12, Middle Grades Integrated Curriculum, and Intensive Reading. It is my responsibility to implement a developmentally appropriate curriculum, create and update all IEP’s and IAP’s, act as the CRT Operator of Genesis, FCAT Coordinator, FCAT Administrator, and textbook manager. During my years, I have received Employee of the Month, Employee of the Year, and Teacher of the month at Huntington Learning Center where I taught in the evenings. However, without question my biggest rewards are received when students who have successfully completed the program return to thank our staff and speak to students who sit where they once sat and stress how much the program can benefit each one if they would allow the staff the opportunity to do so. This is what makes our profession worth every minute of every day.