From a Colleague, Todd Whitaker

With twenty-four years in the field, you'd think that I'd be figuring out this educational endeavor. However, with the emerging body of research, time in the field, new experiences with children and their teachers, more reading, and the desire to never stagnate, I'm as excited about learning new things as ever! Currently, I work at Flathead Valley Community College (beginning my third year, Fall 2019). It's a gorgeous campus with great, innovative, and student-focused activities and programs happening. I'm fortunate enough to be the Director of Early Childhood and a Full Time Faculty Member in EDEC (Early Childhood) and EDU (Education). In additional to my faculty and program duties, I get the opportunity to support our lab school on campus. Students can go observe our littlest learners and their dedicated teachers in an authentic and high-quality childcare facility. Additionally, I support the University of Montana's pre-service teachers. They can graduate with their bachelors by attending FVCC/UM's 2+2 program. Mentoring and supporting these pre-service teachers is one of my favorite activities. When I'm not working at FVCC, I spend time consulting all across the United States (and hopefully someday the world). I'm honored that I book out over a year in advance and I have the opportunity to return to sites for ongoing, sustained professional development. This may include presenting, coaching, planning, modeling lessons, and much more. I am always humbled by the hard work teachers and administrators put into their jobs to ensure student success. Prior to coming to FVCC, I ran an educational cooperative. This cooperative served twenty-six districts in northwest Montana - in Lincoln, Sanders, and Flathead counties. This job was a perfect fit and challenged me in all the right ways. I had the opportunity to write and revise standards and the associated curriculum materials in all subject areas K-12. It was also my distinct pleasure to help create "Math in the Mountains" and "Teacher Appreciation Night" as two special events for area educators. Through this work, I also had the opportunity to collaborate and partner with a myriad of entities to work smarter, not harder. This work grew me for 11 years. Before coming into curriculum, I was a practicing teacher. Beginning in Montana in a multi-age primary school and concluding as a middle school math and social studies teacher in Colorado. Through these years, I taught primary, Art, Design Technology, contained 5th grade, and 6th and 7th grade Math. I even had the chance during a long term substitute in a K-12 small school to teacher middle and high school social studies, 2nd grade PE, and supervised the weight lifting class. I've also enjoyed "other duties as assigned" as they often take me outside my comfort zone. I also served as a Teacher on Special Assignment (TOSA) for Math alongside a colleague and was a mentor teacher. Continuing my education has always been important to me. There's not enough time to learn all I want to learn. But, I did receive my Bachelors in Elementary Education from the University of Montana-Missoula, my Masters in Multi-Cultural, Bilingual, and ESL Education from the University of Colorado-Boulder, my administrative endorsement K-12 from the University of Montana-Missoula, and am currently working on my Doctorate in Literacy and Leadership from Judson University-Elgin as a distance learner. Using assistive technology, I attend classes as a Robot in Elgin from the comfort of my basement in Montana. There is a lot of work and learning to be done...I'm not sure where the educational adventure will take me next! View all posts by elizathomaseducator