VISION ON EDUCATION

Education should consist of challenges, skill builders, a bit of memorization, philosophical discussions, rigorous researching, a little soul searching, reasonable stress and many opportunities to shine. Teaching is about relationships and stories and life. Lectures should feel like conversations because when students look forward to class, they come with willing hearts and open minds. Every day, students surprise and amaze me with their accomplishments, humor, sincerity, eagerness and gratitude.

Even still, sometimes, people choose not to amaze anyone. And this, too, is a legitimate perspective. I honor individuals who embrace education and those who choose not to. Academic super-stardom is not the only path to success, happiness or fulfillment. Some opt to exercise their gifts differently or perhaps later.

I respect learners whose fierce focus moves them in a unique rhythm, and I appreciate students whose indecision may actually lead to other interesting discoveries and opportunities. So let’s explore all the possibilities life might offer and learn to see beyond the imposition of limitations.

About Stefanie Elwood

As a farm girl, Stefanie Elwood started her educational journey in a one-room country school house. She attended city public schooling after a family move and, growing increasingly restless in high school, ultimately graduated as a junior in order to head off to college with a vague understanding of the future.

Feeling uninspired, she left school and created other adventures as a ballroom dance instructor, a bartender, a stained glass artisan and business owner, a wife and a mom. As her only child grew close to his high school years, she returned to college, acquired a BA, an MA, teacher credentials and started teaching during his senior year.

Over the years, she has taught reading and every grade level of high school English, as well as honors and AP courses. At the college level, she has taught Freshman Composition, Critical Thinking and Literary Analysis. She presents instructional practices at teacher workshops and has been published in educational journals.

Through all of the various incarnations of her life, Stefanie is living proof that people do not have to follow a single or even a particular path to attain educational and professional success.