If You Don't Feed the Students, They Starve. Neila A. Connors
This book is dedicated most importantly to Helen Irene Mooney Connors, my best friend, mentor, and mother, who was my most talented teacher of all (I miss and love you every day). As I look back at all of the basics and learnings she taught me, I am amazed how much ahead of her time she lived. She was the mother extraordinaire, filled with so much love, excitement, and compassion that she authentically lived every day to the fullest, smiling and laughing her way through life.
It is also dedicated to my three favorite teachers: Mrs. Charlotte Pignatelli (2nd grade), Mrs. Mae Brown (high school home economics), and Mr. Stephen Sable (high school psychology) – each inspired me to pursue teaching and be the best possible in life – and to all of the other extraordinary teachers in the world.
And to my favorite principal: Mr. Paul Perachi (Lenox Memorial High School, Lenox, Massachusetts), who wrote to me, “One thing I learned, early on, when working with kids was that you needed to be honest and straightforward in all of your dealings. Kids can smell a phony from a mile away and they respect your honesty even if they don't agree with you or like what you are saying or doing. You've obviously had a distinguished career, and I am honored to have been a little part of it.”
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
I further acknowledge the following people who have inspired, loved, and supported me throughout this adventure:
My dearest friends who all pushed me along to complete this project and birth this baby:Dr. John Lounsbury – my friend, my mentor, my hero.Dr. James and Debbie Crosier – always my biggest cheerleaders and amazing friends.Jeanette Phillips – my “sister” who puts up with my right-brained lifestyle as she lives her left-brained and one of the most student-oriented, remarkable principals I ever worked with.Dr. Martinrex Kedziora – who also continuously asked how much I had completed and when would it be published and for being the Superintendent Extraordinaire at the Moreno Unified School District.Judy Sanders Enright – the most organized person I ever knew, who brings out the best in everyone and gets things done.Dr. Glady Van Harpen – even though she lives in the coldest part of our country, she is the warmest and kindest person in the world.Dr. Richard Ramsey – who is always checking on me and bringing me back to reality – thanks, Rev.Kathy Shewey – the most caring listener, who is always there for anyone who needs a shoulder or a room for the night.Cathy Egley – one of the best principals I have ever worked with, who loves students and gives her “all” in everything she does.
My St. Leo College/University divas/besties. We met in 1971 fresh out of high school and are still in touch and acting like we are still in college:Patty Kinney DaileyAnna FarrellJanelle Buck WalkleyJoan D. Petrie
My Thomasville City Schools, Thomasville, Georgia, team. You are remarkable and make my day every day. Thank you:My students – I LOVE EACH and EVERY ONE OF YOU.Mrs. Gwen Scott-MorrowMrs. Tina McBrideMrs. Carla DuBoseMr. Neal FordMrs. Katie McCloudMrs. Kimsey HodgeDr. Tret WitherspoonMrs. Pam CloudMr. Espy
My Thomas University, Thomasville, Georgia, colleagues who gave me the opportunity to get back into the classroom through the GEAR UP program:Ms. Melanie MartinMr. Leon SmithMr. Kendrick DuncanMs. Vera ClarkMr. Deandre RobinsonMrs. Teresa Treat
And last but not least, to Bradley Craig Buysse, my best friend, partner, and soul mate, who put up with chaos and a total mass of papers everywhere as I wrote, who supported my efforts, and blissfully cheered my completion. Love you!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Dr. Neila A. Connors is the founder and president of N.A.C. (Networking And Client) CONNECTIONS INC., a corporation dedicated to the implementation of positive attitudes and actions in people. Her primary focus is to coach people on how to “build their own bridge for a successful life.” Her philosophy is based on Napoleon Hill's quote: “If you can conceive it and believe it, you can achieve it.”
Presently, Neila works for Thomasville University in Thomasville, Georgia, as a site coordinator for the GEAR UP program, which places her in MacIntyre Park Middle School teaching 6th, 7th, and 8th grade math. She loves being in the classroom.
Throughout her career, Neila has had the privilege of working with students in grades K–12. She has been an elementary teacher, a middle school teacher, and an administrator. She also was an online adjunct professor online at Florida State University for four years.
Previously, Neila worked at the Florida Department of Education, responsible for coordinating the development of the middle and high school state curriculum frameworks, working with high school teachers and administrators throughout the state. She also was the director of Middle Grades and later was responsible for the state International Baccalaureate and Advanced Placement programs. She also served as a tenured professor in the Department of Middle and Secondary Education at Valdosta State University, Valdosta, Georgia.
Her research has been in the areas of teacher advisory programs, successful counselors, attitudes of students from rural areas, positive teachers and their characteristics, and homework. Among her most notable publications are S.O.S. (Success-Oriented Strategies) for Teachers of At-Risk Early Adolescents: P.S. – All Early Adolescents Are at Risk! and Homework: A New Direction. Her most recent publication, If You Don't Feed the Teachers, They Eat the Students, a guide for all educators, has received many enthusiastic reviews.
Neila has written numerous articles. She has presented to public and private school educators, school boards, superintendents, state and national organizations, parents, counselors, international school educators, and corporations in the 50 states, Canada, and Europe.
Born in Lenox Dale, Massachusetts, Neila received her bachelor's degree from St. Leo College in Florida and her master's and doctorate degrees from Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida. She is proud to be a die-hard Florida State Seminole and introduces herself as A BELIEVER IN PEOPLE AND A LOVER OF LIFE!
PREFACE
These are very interesting and challenging times in education. With the emphasis on the Common Core State Standards (CCSS), Georgia Milestones, teacher assessment, and high-stakes testing, on top of many other new practices and programs, many feel inundated and overly stressed. Plates are full and anxiety is high in classrooms and schools everywhere. Veteran teachers are asking why, while new teachers are asking how.
There are too many cooks in the kitchen deciding what is best for our students and the progression of education. Everyone is screaming accountability, assessment, accreditation, authenticity, and adaptability as our students and teachers are just trying to endure. And while our standards increase and our testing toughens, the real world just uses a search engine to find information at a moment's notice.
Think about it. In this day and age, if we are dining with a friend or colleague and they mention a topic, term, or philosophy that we are unfamiliar with – what do we do? In less than two minutes, we have a complete description and a base foundation from searching on our phone. Yet our schools are still in the antiquated mode of the “drill and kill,” “death by ditto,” and the “sage on the stage” methods. The tests get more difficult, the teachers are overwhelmed, and students are looking for alternatives via online and virtual learning because there is too much to learn that never will be applied in the real world. So unfortunate, especially when the extraordinary teachers have the answers.
The foremost objective for writing this book is to focus on what really matters and remind everyone to NEVER lose sight of what is important – relationships, relevance, recognition, and connections with our students. If students don't feel that the adults they are working with truly care – learning does not occur. That is the reality. We cannot tolerate new trends mandated by elected officials with inflated egos to take away from doing whatever it takes to F.E.E.D (Fuel, Engage, Empower Daily) students on a regular basis so they do not S.T.A.R.V.E. (Stop Trying And Reject Valuable Education). Students and their overall welfare must be our major concentration.