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>> Join us as we meet the 2013 DoDEA Teacher
of Year Danielle Massey and celebrate the many contributions
of DoDEA teachers coming up next in the chat room.
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>> Frank O'Gara:Welcome to the chat room.
I'm Frank O'Gara your host today.
The National Teacher of theYear program recognizes teachers
for their dedication and contributions
to the lives of American students.
With me in the studio is the2013 DoDEA Teacher of the Year,
Danielle Massey from the Bavaria District.
Danielle teaches algebra to students
at Vilseck High School in Germany.
Miss Massey is a military spouse and moved to Vilseck in 2006.
In the past she taught
at Fayetteville TechnicalCommunity College
in North Carolina.
She's a graduate ofEastern Michigan University
and holds a Master's degree from Missouri State University
in College StudentPersonnel Administration.
Danielle recently represented DoDea at the National Teacher
of the Year celebration in Washington,
D.C. Welcome Danielle.
>> Danielle Massey: Thank you.
>> Frank O'Gara: It's a pleasure to have you here
and you're just coming off a fantastic week.
>> Danielle Massey: Yes,a wonderful, amazing,
exhausting, but thrilling week.
>> Frank O'Gara: What was it like to meet your colleagues,
the state Teachers of the Year from all across the nation?
>> Danielle Massey: Humbling.
It was-- to be look ingacross the room
at these 53 fabulous Teachers of the Year who are so unique
and such a range of diversity in terms of what they teach.
And you know what they're doing, what grade level,
what subject area, but yet at the same time it's all
about a love for learning and a passion for teaching
and just a love for students.
And I just love
that interconnectedness that we all have.
And again, it's absolutely humbling I think.
I pinch myself every other second.
>> Frank O'Gara: I'm sure.
I'm sure.
>> Danielle Massey:Of being there, so.
>> Frank O'Gara: And they all have an inspirational story.
>> Danielle Massey:Every single one.
>> Frank O'Gara: And again you do as well.
>> Danielle Massey: I do.
>> Frank O'Gara: Okay.
>> Danielle Massey: I have a great story that I love to share
with people and will keep sharing it as long
as somebody's listening.
>> Frank O'Gara:Well, we were proud
to have you represent DoDEA--
>> Danielle Massey: Yea.
>> Frank O'Gara: At that.
And we're going to hear some of that story today as we talk.
>> Danielle Massey: Great.
>> Frank O'Gara: Tell me-- I know one of the highlights was
of course going to the White House.
>> Danielle Massey: Yes.
>> Frank O'Gara: Talk about it.
What was it like?
>> Danielle Massey: It was just the most amazing unforgettable
experience I will ever have.
I think next to maybe my wedding
or having my own children this is definitely at the top.
And walking in, again,with all the other Teachers
of the Years it was definitely nerve wracking going
through all the security and doing all that.
But, walking into the WhiteHouse and then sitting
in the Roosevelt Room
where there's his Nobel PeacePrize, his Medal of Honor.
And then all of a sudden they said okay line
up and we're walking on.
And the military protocol it's just amazing
to me being a military spouse how just structured and they are
on every detail of it.
>> Frank O'Gara: Oh,I'm sure, absolutely.
>> Danielle Massey: AndI just wanted to jump up
and down walking into the Oval Office,
but I think I blinked and it was over.
And I-- but I keep trying to soak
in every second thatI can remember.
>> Frank O'Gara: And did I hear
that you got a coin from the President?
>> Danielle Massey: I did.
I walked up to him and talked as fast as I possibly could
because I knew we had a limited amount of time
and I just wouldn't stop.
And when I asked him for the coin to give it on behalf of--
to my husband who has been in the service,
actually he celebrated11 years this week.
>> Frank O'Gara: Fantastic.
>> Danielle Massey: And he's been in the Army as an XO
and a Signal Officer for,again, the past 11 years
and to be able to give that to him.
I think right after meeting the President
that was the most heartwarming experience.
I mean I just had tears in my eyes
and the President was so gracious about it.
And--
>> Frank O'Gara:That's wonderful.
>> Danielle Massey:It means so much--
>> Frank O'Gara:Absolutely wonderful.
>> Danielle Massey:So, yea I will keep it.
>> Frank O'Gara: We heard that you met Mrs. Biden as well.
>> Danielle Massey: Yes.
I-- we got to go toDr. Biden's house
on the first nightt hat we were there.
And she had a wonderful display of military or artwork
for the military, the Month of the Military Child.
And the last picture that I saw was called, "Deployment Math"
and it just brought tears to my eyes not only as a math teacher,
but as a mother of two school aged children as well to know
that my children have been
through missing those opportunities.
And she hugged me and said that, "We're all one big family"
and that's sums it up right there.
And to know how much she understands that
and can empathize with that really makes me proud
to be there and to be a representative for DoDEA.
>> Frank O'Gara: Well, it's great that she understands the--
>> Danielle Massey: Yea.
>> Frank O'Gara:Special population
of kids that we deal with--
>> Danielle Massey: Yea.
>> Frank O'Gara: In our school system.
>> Danielle Massey: Yea.
>> Frank O'Gara: And I want to talk a little bit
about military connected kids because that I know
from hearing you in the past and from reading what you've written
that that's one of your platforms.
It's something that you really focus on.
Talk to me a little bit about that.
>> Danielle Massey: Yea.
I-- you know again, I've been a spouse and I have children.
So, being in this role as the teacher
and now the DoDEA Teacher
of the Year has just really brought all those worlds
together for me in this just wonderful opportunity to be able
to speak their praises and sing what they do, to again,
anyone who will listen.
Because those children,they have so much
that they have sacrificed and then dedicated there selves
to just like their soldier parent.
They talk about in Army values having personal courage
and selfless service and that's what our kids have every day.
And it doesn't matter if they're kindergarten
or they're a senior taking calculus.
They want to come in.
They want to feel safe.
They want to feel respected and honored and they do.
They understand how to believe in those greater concepts
of freedom and leadership and duty that are
so difficult to capture.
But, we're a military family and we've got to stay connected
and reach out and help each other whether that's from a hug
or some encouragement on doing that algebra problem.
>> Frank O'Gara: Absolutely.
>> Danielle Massey: It varies.
And we've got to have whatever it takes
for that child that day.
>> Frank O'Gara: Absolutely.
>> Danielle Massey: And again,it changes all the time.
And I myself have been through that so much so--
>> Frank O'Gara:Well, I think probably
as a military spouse who's had a spouse who's been deployed
as well, you have some special insights into--
>> Danielle Massey: Yea.
>> Frank O'Gara: That that are helpful to students.
>> Danielle Massey: Yea.
And I think with those insights it's been great for me
to be able to share that from a real perspective
because it's not easy; just like teaching's not easy.
It gets messy sometimes.
It gets emotional.
It's frustrating and the same thing
with being a military spouse.
And-- but I'll always go back to like we're in this together
and we're here to help each other.
And if it just takes me extending my hand out
and reaching out and getting connected to others, again,
whether that's through algebra or whether that's
through having dinner or just listening.
And I think a lot of times that's all people want.
They just want to know
that you're willing to listen to them.
>> Frank O'Gara: Absolutely.
>> Danielle Massey: And from speaking from a parent of one
of my students to another parent, you know it's okay
to take that teacher hat off and just listen and hear their story
because I have a great story to share, but I know millions
of others have equally as great of a story as me, so.
>> Frank O'Gara: Well said, absolutely well said.
That-- I mean obviously our primary mission is education--
>> Danielle Massey: Uh huh.
>> Frank O'Gara: But, on some days that secondary--
>> Danielle Massey: Yea.
>> Frank O'Gara: Mission of taking care of kids
and helping to create that--
>> Danielle Massey: Yea.
>> Frank O'Gara:Stability that is so--
>> Danielle Massey: Right.
>> Frank O'Gara: Necessary in their lives is critical for us.
You mentioned mathematics already a couple--
>> Danielle Massey: Yea.
>> Frank O'Gara: Of times.
I know that's a passion.
Of course you're a math teacher.
>> Danielle Massey: Right.
>> Frank O'Gara: I mean math matters in school today.
Tell my why.
What is it about mathematics
that is absolutely critical to their education?
>> Danielle Massey: You know yesterday we were
at the Department of Education and one
of the big initiatives that's coming
out is the STEM Initiative.
And when we were asked for out input yesterday it's hard
to not get selfish.
As a math teacher we all want to think as teachers
that our content or our subject area is the absolute
most important.
And I will say math is the most important.
But, not to diminish anything else,
I think we all collectively have to work together.
But, I would say the unique aspect of math
and to put it back into the context of the military,
for example, my husband couldn't do his job in communications
and laying, from even laying cable lines in Iraq to helping
with the computer systems and cyber security type issues
without having those critical thinking, reasoning,
problem solving skills.
And those aren't just math skills,
but I think that's what people initially think about.
So, you know there's an educational factor that we have
to raise that awareness,that those critical thinking,
problem solving,reasoning, analyzing.
Those go beyond math, but we'll start with that.
We can start with science,technology, engineering
and integrating all of that information together
to get the best learning experience.
And you know I think that's
when the absolute best learning happens,
when students can apply their knowledge to--
from the content into areal life application.
>> Frank O'Gara:The relevancy of it.
>> Danielle Massey:But-- exactly.
>> Frank O'Gara: Yea.
>> Danielle Massey: It's got to be meaningful to them.
>> Frank O'Gara:Absolutely, absolutely.
Now, there are-- I mean what role does the 21st Century look
at teaching and learning play with regard to mathematics?
I mean how is it changing our approach
to mathematics in schools?
>> Danielle Massey:I think it goes back
to that real life relevant experience,
making that learning experience authentic,
inspiring, surprising, engaging.
You know being
at the Smithsonian earlier this week that's what they talked
about and that's what we want to do as teachers.
And in the 21st Century it's not anything new that we're doing,
it's just kind of recapturing it, reframing it,
reinvigorating it and finding
that application to the real world.
And there's so many opportunities
with the technology to be able to do that whether it's
through Skype or video teleconferencing, email,
the smart technology that we have in many
of our classrooms it's just right there at our fingertips.
And to not take advantage
of that is maybe not making the best use of our time.
So--
>> Frank O'Gara: But,it's a big adjustment--
>> Danielle Massey: Yea.
>> Frank O'Gara: For teachers isn't it?
>> Danielle Massey: It is.
>> Frank O'Gara: Yea.
>> Danielle Massey: It is.
And I think for students as well and parents because they're used
to well that's not how I learned.
So, there are different ways to go about that and I think
as teachers we have to educate our parents.
We have to let the students understand hey,
this is why I want you todo that because it's not
about just learning how to add anymore.
It's going to the grocery score--
grocery store and knowing hey I only have this amount of money
so how can I maximize that amount
to have the most healthy meal.
So, and if a student can do that they're ready.
>> Frank O'Gara: Oh absolutely--
>> Danielle Massey:They're ready to go.
>> Frank O'Gara: Absolutely.
Now, there are a lot of different approaches
that teachers take today to teaching and learning and one
of that I've heard you talk about is flip mastery.
>> Danielle Massey: Yea.
>> Frank O'Gara: Okay talk a little bit about that.
>> Danielle Massey: Yea,
I've been doing the flipped mastery now for three years.
And it has really just opened up an opportunity for me to be able
to utilize the technology.
So, I video all my lessons
through the smart technology recorders that we have
and put them on a website.
And the most surprising part of the flipped instruction
for me has been the access that parents have to the website
and to be able to sit down with their students
and watch a video and talk about it.
I actually had a parent come up to me in the PX.
I was just minding my own business,
trying to buy something for the evening and came up to me
and gave me a big hug because he wanted to thank me
for being able to have conversations
with his fifteen year old daughter about algebra.
That to me was amazing.
The flipped instruction allows me
to have time during the classroom to be able to have
that one on one discussion to really make it meaningful
for that student, really get down to what they already know.
What they need to know and move them along their own learning
path, so to put in that rigor into it
and that looks different for every child.
So, that's what the flipped instruction has been able
to do for me.
>> Frank O'Gara: And is it a practice that is,
that is widely used in your school as well
with other-- with your colleagues?
>> Danielle Massey: Yea there's quite a few.
We have a great network going
on within our district all the way down to kindergarten.
>> Frank O'Gara: Wow.
>> Danielle Massey: All the way up to algebra II
and across different subject areas as well.
So, I have-- we've been working
with some history teachers and language arts.
And again, it's just one model to use--
>> Frank O'Gara: Right.
>> Danielle Massey:In your classroom.
It's not a one size fits all for everybody.
And the way it looked last year for me is different
from the way it looks this year.
So, this year I've been able
to incorporate a lot more project-based learning,
application projects and I've been able to do
that with an awesome co-teacher that I have, Ryan Goodfellow,
at Vilseck High School and working together
in that collaborative environment with him.
Another teacher that I have,Cindy Alstromer, at my school
as well as the students,
I mean they tell us what they want to know.
They know--
>> Frank O'Gara: Absolutely.
>> Danielle Massey: And they are not afraid to ask as well, so.
>> Frank O'Gara: I'm sure.
>> Danielle Massey: Right.
>> Frank O'Gara: Now,you in addition to--
I mean meeting the fiftyTeachers of the Year--
>> Danielle Massey: Right.
>> Frank O'Gara: Many of them,as you said, were math teachers.
>> Danielle Massey: Um hmm.
>> Frank O'Gara: Did you learn anything new from some
of those other math teachers that you want to bring back
to your own classroom?
>> Danielle Massey: Yes.
I think just to don't settle.
Keep trying out new ideas every time.
Everyone has something that they can share to help
with those application of the knowledge
and I think that's what it always comes back to.
And just to be able to share those different projects
that people are working on,
stuff that they've tried will really help me become a better
teacher in the future too.
>> Frank O'Gara: Well, as you are an inspiration to many
of our teachers and indeed all of the Teachers of the Year
across the nation are inspirations--
>> Danielle Massey: Yea.
>> Frank O'Gara: Was there somebody that was an inspiration
to you, a teacher, when you were growing up?
>> Danielle Massey: Yea.
I had two amazing math teachers actually, ironically enough.
You know I never wanted
to be anything else other than a teacher.
Well, I guess I should digress and say I did want
to be a Dallas Cowgirl cheerleader at one point,
but my father said,"Absolutely not."
So, I was really fortunate to have two wonderful math teachers
at my high school in Tiffin, Ohio.
And I've actually reconnected with one
of them recently and to thank her.
And you know in teaching you sometimes don't see the payoff
that and the impact you've had on a student.
So, for me to be able to use this role to be able to go back
and thank her for what she did
for me was just heartwarming,tears, it was--
>> Frank O'Gara:What was her reaction
when you went back to her?
>> Danielle Massey: Well,it was just through email.
And she's actually a professor at the local university
in my town at Tiffin University.
And we have now been collaborating
on how she can use the flipped instruction
in her college classes.
And so, it's been a unique relationship that's developed
because now I'm like, I'm giving her advice on what--
>> Frank O'Gara: Absolutely.
>> Danielle Massey: To do and what I've experienced
and I've been able to share my story.
But, what they did for me was--
I would say it wasn't that special in terms
of you know a unique-- you know it wasn't anything different
that they did.
They were just-- they were my teachers and they cared
for me and they took me in.
They mentored me and I think that's what all
of our teachers do every day.
And we don't realize the impact that we have on them.
>> Frank O'Gara:You're absolutely right.
>> Danielle Massey: So, yea.
>> Frank O'Gara:You're absolutely right.
Is there a, from your learning experience this week okay,
is there a message or are commendation that you have
for our teachers around the globe?
>> Danielle Massey: Yes.
And from all the fifty four state Teachers of the Year
and even the NationalTeacher of the Year,
Jeff Charbonneau from Washington--
>> Frank O'Gara: A math teacher as well, right?
>> Danielle Massey:A science teacher--
>> Frank O'Gara:Science teacher.
>> Danielle Massey:Chemistry, physics--
>> Frank O'Gara: Okay.
>> Danielle Massey: A big proponent of STEM as well.
You know he made a really good point the other night and it was
when you're asked what do you teach you know,
the first response is usually algebra I.
I teach ninth grader at Vilseck High School.
And he has challenged us t obe able to share our stories
of what else we teach,the longer version,
which is confidence and respect and courage.
And I always want to go back to those Army values,
the leadership, the duty--
>> Frank O'Gara: and they're our own core values as--
>> Danielle Massey: They are.
>> Frank O'Gara: As chool system as well.
>> Danielle Massey: They are.
And that's what I teach.
I teach students that it's okay to fail.
We'll do this together.
It's a safe environment.
Try your best and if that's not going to work today that's okay.
We'll try it again tomorrow.
And so, I would say to the other teachers you know share
your story.
Everyone has a story.
We want to hear it.
We want to hear about wonderful amazing things
that teachers are doing all across in all
of our schools everywhere.
I mean across the world we're the great school system that's
across the world.
And I think they need to share their story
and just remember why you went into teaching.
Was it that teacher back when you were in high school,
that inspiration, that student that left a note
on your desk last week?
Because that passion to let go of that you've got
to gain it back because that's what keeps us moving on
and those are students.
They're our future.
They're going to be taking care of us here in the next--
>> Frank O'Gara: Absolutely.
>> Danielle Massey:Ten, twenty years and--
>> Frank O'Gara: That's what it's all about.
>> Danielle Massey: I want them to be the absolute best
and they are military students
and they deserve the absolute best because their parents fight
for use every day and keep us safe, so.
>> Frank O'Gara: Well Danielle I know that I speak for educators,
for students, for parents and our military families
around the world in telling you how proud we are of you--
>> Danielle Massey: Thank you.
>> Frank O'Gara:And thanking you
for your contributions not only at Vilseck High School,
but to the-- indeed to the system
and to education in general.
It's been our pleasure to have you here--
>> Danielle Massey: Thank you.
>> Frank O'Gara: Thank you so much for coming
and we look forward to hearing more stories
about you adventures during the Washington week--
>> Danielle Massey: Yea.
>> Frank O'Gara: Herewith the other teachers.
>> Danielle Massey: Definitely.
Thank you very much.
>> Frank O'Gara:Our pleasure, okay.
You can learn more about the Teacher
of the Year program on our website.
Thank you for joining us in this edition of The Chat Room.
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