Relationships! Relationships! Relationships!

Relationships are the bedrock of Steve’s educational philosophy. It begins and ends with relationships. Kids work harder, learn more and exceed expectations when they know we care about them and what is expected of them. Caring about them for who they are instead of what they do is called unconditional positive regard. He has always been drawn to those who are more challenging to love, because they need it most. Steve became a teacher on a mission to serve, yet says he has benefitted more from those he serves.

Steve realizes he is certainly not alone in that regard. Many teachers come to school every day with love in their hearts for the children we serve, but sometimes go home dejected or rejected. Steve knows there is ample research about effective methods to support our kids AND our teachers. These methods are simple, but not easy. However, we can create a warm, caring learning environment with high expectations for behavior and academics, enabling our students to thrive.

Steve speaks from the heart and is passionate about helping our kids AND teachers succeed. He provides many strategies that teachers can implement on their first day back in the classroom and openly shares examples of success (and failures). He also uses simple analogies that make the strategies easy to understand and remember. His genuine warmth and humor create the feeling of gathering around the fire to hear some of grandpa’s wisdom.