Interview by Ruth Nelson
A year ago I met and interviewed Sarah Brown Wessling, newly selected National Teacher of the Year. She had just returned from visiting the White House and meeting President Barrack Obama. She was excited and a little unsure of what the coming year would bring.
This month I had the chance to chat with Ms.Wessling once again to learn about her experiences over the past 12 months. From the beginning of the interview I noticed a difference; while still passionate about her teaching; there was a new awareness of our country and even the world and the challenges inherent in the education realm.
The following are some of the highlights of our talk.
Ruth: Sarah, it is nice to talk with you again. I am really looking forward to hearing about your experiences over the past year.
Sarah: Thanks, Ruth. I am happy to share some of them with you.
I know my work is not over; this particular part of my journey is over; but it has opened my eyes to the work that can be done and needs to be done in the education realm.
Let me share a few details from the past year. My 238thspeech or teaching engagement was last Friday. I gave 115 interviews and additional requests, and I traveled to 35 states, plus Finland and Japan. There were so many wonderful opportunities to learn and to grow.
The learning came in two forms; external and internal. Externally, I learned about school systems and was exposed to new ideas when I visited different schools. Internally, I grew tremendously each time I prepared for one of mynumerous speeches or interviews. I took on new challenges and stretched myself to see education from different perspectives which either confirmed or made me rethink my beliefs. I discovered the complexity of the issues surrounding education. Society is always asking for a silver bullet, but the truth is the answer is not one thing, but a process. Priorities in one area will impact other areas. We have to work with the complexities.
Ruth: Can you share with the HOPE readers a few of the highlights of your year?
Sarah: Looking back, I learned something new at each place I visited. I met so many amazing people that helped me see things from a different perspective. My trip to Japan was very special; to see schools from a different culture and through a new lens. In Japan there was a very strong sense of presence in the classroom. All the teachers were just very present, very much in the moment. They were not processing information; instead they were actively working with the students.
Finland is very renowned for their school system. When visiting Finland I learned a wonderful lesson about cultures. Their culture is very different from ours. They very much value learning over achievement and testing. A college education is free and they put an incredible emphasis on learning. The do not focus on the test; they focus on learning, which in turn creates proficiency.
I saw so many inspiring teachers all over our country and abroad. It really was a learning and growing year.
Ruth: So now that your ‘Teacher of the Year’ time is over, are you planning to go back to teaching?
Sarah: Yes, but I like to say ‘I am not going back, but going forward to teaching’. I will once again be teaching high school EnglishinJohnston, Iowa. The specifics of my new position have yet to be fully determined, but it will include a coaching component and the coordination of professional development. I will be in the classroom for half the day and working with teachers the other half. I plan to continue some of the work I started through the Council of Chief State School Officers this past year. I am excited about the possibilities. This past year was a wonderful experience and one for which I am extremely grateful.
Ruth: Thank you so much for your time today Sarah. Best wishes with your future plans.
About Sarah Brown Wessling
If you were to walk into Sarah’s classroom, the first thing that you would notice is that her desk is in the back corner of the room. This is her outward sign of an implicit philosophy that learning must be “learner-centered.” As a 12-year veteran of the high school English Language Arts classroom, Sarah has enjoyed working with all kinds of students throughout a spectrum of courses. Believing in the power of asking good questions and creating worthy learning experiences for students, Sarah has worked to put herself in the same growth mindset she hopes to cultivate in her students. She earned a bachelor’s and master’s degree from Iowa State University in English Education and English Literature respectively. Sarah also became a Nationally Board Certified Teacher in 2005.
Active in her district and state in professional development efforts, Sarah has served on numerous committees, special teams and advisory boards. She is proud to be able to point to so many pivotal mentors and colleagues who have supported and nurtured her as a growing professional. “I am not a perfect teacher,” she says. “If anything, it’s my colleagues and mentors who diminish those imperfections.” She has been especially active with the Iowa and National Council of Teachers of English, where she has served as the ICTE President.
In 2010 Sarah was selected at the National Teacher of the Year in which she spent the year traveling as a nationally and internationally as a spokesperson for education. Having had hundreds of engagements around the country during that time, she says that the experience has “made her feel more responsible than ever to be a better teacher in the classroom next year.” She returns to Johnston High School in 2011. She and her husband, Tim, relish their favorite role, mom and dad, to Evan, Lauren and Zachary at home in Johnston, Iowa.
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