KSDE Commissioner
I had the privilege to hear the Kansas State Department of Education Commissioner, Randy Watson, speak at Kansas State University. His message made me excited to begin my teaching career. One thing that stuck out to me was when he said that the students will have more success when teachers are caring for their students and not just focused on the content that is being taught. Being able to relate and connect with students is a very important part of teaching. I thought that the project based learning was interesting. Projects are a good way to get students interested in a specific topic. He also talked about how important it is that teachers help students figure out what they're talented at. If a student gets discouraged early, then their struggles will continue up to high school. It is critical that teachers help students prepare for a college education. In today's world, it is essential that students receive their college degree. This will lead to more job opportunities and an overall better quality of life. Students don't care how much you know, until they know how much you care.