Mrs. Koos

Education: Bachelor of Science, Mathematics from Pennsylvania State University; Master of Science, Mathematics Education from Florida Institute of Technology; Education Specialist in Educational Leadership from University of Central Florida
Length of time teaching:  29 years
Length of time at HT: 18 years

 

How do you feel you can help students to “Start Here. Go Anywhere.”?
I believe that teachers should treat learners like the unique individuals God has created them to be.  Today too much of education is built on a “factory model” instead of on the model of an intimate learning community. I believe in the school family.  Too many students in other schools are subjected to large classes, little personal contact with teachers and administration, and few opportunities for individualized attention. When we examine what we as teachers need to change to best reach our students then we can truly help them to “go anywhere.”

 

How do you keep current with the subject areas you cover? 
I believe that as an educator today, it is important to be up to date on the latest research and changes that are happening in our world.  I embrace social media and use it to network with educators all over the world. I love using Twitter to connect with other educators around the world.  #mathchat is a hashtag used by math teachers to collaborate online. I also am a co-moderator for #isedchat which is independent school educators chat.  We talk each week on the latest trends in education.  

 

What do you want your students to take away from being in your class? 
I want them to love mathematics. I also want them to value learning from their mistakes and always doing their best. I want them to celebrate the success of their peers.

 

What has been your most memorable moment in teaching? 
One of my most memorable moments in teaching was when I was teaching AP Statistics. There was a girl in the class who wanted to drop the class a couple of weeks into it.  I asked her to come talk to me after school before she made her final decision. She thought the class was too hard and that she wouldn’t pass the exam so why put in all that effort. We talked about her future, what she wanted to do in college, and I told her that I believed in her abilities. She stayed in the class and earned a 4 on the AP Statistics exam. She and her mom came to visit me after the exam and told me how much I had made a difference in her senior year.