Study after study affirms what I saw in the classroom every day as superintendent of Denver Public Schools: Nothing makes a bigger difference for student learning than great teaching.
Sentiment: NEGATIVE
My time at the Denver Public Schools taught me there is no harder, or more important, job than being a teacher.
Teaching does allow me to keep one foot in the youthful waters I tend to occupy in my novels, so I'm thankful for that. My students also remind me on a daily basis that the stories I collected during my district attorney days are actually interesting to people who haven't had that experience.
I have learned that, although I am a good teacher, I am a much better student, and I was blessed to learn valuable lessons from my students on a daily basis. They taught me the importance of teaching to a student - and not to a test.
Plus, teaching brings home to you very fast that you actually know nothing. I didn't realize that before.
I see myself as an educator.
As an educator myself, I understand the profound effect that good teachers and a quality education have on the lives of our young people.
As long as my sixth graders showed an average improvement of five years, the principal and district pretty much left me alone to create my own curriculum and teach whatever I wanted.
To me, the avocation of a teacher has something elevating and exciting. While surrounded by the young, one may always be doing good.
Teachers are always trying to inspire people to do better, to learn, to grow. That's what we do, and we're proud of the success we've had here doing that, and it's something we'll certainly continue to do.
I am teaching more. That is what I do best.
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