Wishes+and+Plans+for+the+Future

Readers, Educators, and Students,

Thank you for taking the time to read through this presentation and contribute to the discussion boards. I would like to take a moment to summarize some of my thoughts on the Dream School International project.

In going through this research project in anticipation of opening Dream School International, I have noticed two definite patterns and those are mentions and references to inclusive education and mentions of a learner centered approach. I think that this shows just how important these two things, and so of course both will be strongly reflected in the work that we do at DSI.

I feel like all teachers are strongly influenced by their own histories both personally and with education. We teach what we know and, as a result, teachers who have had great relationships, struggles, and inquests with their subject matter are bound to make great teachers of it. I know that I am who I am because of the family that I grew up in and because of the great teachers that I encountered in my own education. I also know that I want to avoid some of the negative things that I have seen in education, and that's why I have pushed strongly for anti-bullying education, inclusion, and teachers who are in tune with who their students are.

I want this school to become known for the quality education that it provides and to me this means tapping into all of the things that have the power to produce excellence. I believe that these include a 21st century approach to learning that uses technology in the classroom, lessons based on teaching the 'Skills of Life' and asking the 'Questions of Life', and using motivational tools and collaborative work to make sure that students are always intrigue, challenged, and driven to acheive.

I think that some of the most important tools that I have discovered through my research are the many online resources that are referenced here. I think that the internet is such a valuable tool for education and creates such an opportunity for collaboration among educators. I think that if each teacher were to investigate one new teaching tool, framework, or approach in each lesson that they plan, that those teachers would be able to create unique and meaningful lessons that their students would take with them throughout their lives.

The tools that are available for English teachers are vast. There is so much online already about methods for acheiving core standards, ways of teaching writing and reading comprehension, and tools for expanding ones approach to language arts education. As an English teacher myself, I can only begin to express how excited I am on a personal level to have discovered so many resources and tools for education that I will be able to take into my own classroom now and in the future.

With the doors of Dream School International planned to be opening in just a few short weeks, I hope that you are as excited by what's to come as those of us on the board of trustees are, and, of course, when those doors open, I hope to see all of you there!

On behalf of our community of educators, I thank you for your continued support. Sincerely,

Jennifer Gunter Board of Trustees, Dream School International