Yesterday afternoon Michele Del Gallo Castner inducted me as the newest in a long line of presidents of the University of Virginia Chapter of Phi Delta Kappa. Our chapter traces its roots back to the early 1920's, a period of time in education considerably different from where we are today. As a president new to the office, I can't help but reflect on the first days of our former presidents and the many hopes and dreams that filled their hearts. As great leaders they undoubtedly had a strong commitment to the teaching and learning that was taking place in their day accompanied by a vision for education that extended far beyond the limits of their own careers.
While the earliest leaders would have trouble envisioning the learning tools in classrooms today (such as cutting edge one-to-one distribution models for educational technology, document cameras attached to Smart Boards, or International Portals that allow us to speak face-to-face with educators and students from around the globe), the key elements of teaching and learning would have been clear to them; critical thinking, problem solving, and creating are goals for learning that transcend time and culture in a powerful way. The earliest leaders, along with the more recent PDK Chapter presidents, were clear about the foundation of our profession and wholeheartedly embraced all of the tools at their disposal to ensure that children of all ages learned at the highest possible levels.
My heart is filled with gratitude to the early leaders of our organization and hope for the many great endeavors we will take on in the coming months and years. We will continue to build upon the solid foundation that has been laid in the past and will always remain an organization of professional educators who are committed to the highest level of teaching and learning available in the 21st century.
Doug
While the earliest leaders would have trouble envisioning the learning tools in classrooms today (such as cutting edge one-to-one distribution models for educational technology, document cameras attached to Smart Boards, or International Portals that allow us to speak face-to-face with educators and students from around the globe), the key elements of teaching and learning would have been clear to them; critical thinking, problem solving, and creating are goals for learning that transcend time and culture in a powerful way. The earliest leaders, along with the more recent PDK Chapter presidents, were clear about the foundation of our profession and wholeheartedly embraced all of the tools at their disposal to ensure that children of all ages learned at the highest possible levels.
My heart is filled with gratitude to the early leaders of our organization and hope for the many great endeavors we will take on in the coming months and years. We will continue to build upon the solid foundation that has been laid in the past and will always remain an organization of professional educators who are committed to the highest level of teaching and learning available in the 21st century.
Doug