Jessica Schofield & Yvonne Pittman of the Goddard School were voted Teaching Team of the Month for April 2016
This month we had a special situation where parents and the community voted for a teaching team! Congrats to both Jessica Schofield and Yvonne Pittman who are a teaching team at The Goddard School. They were voted Teacher of the Month for April 2016. They are accepting their gift card and certifcates from School Crossing Owner Sherry Phipps. Teacher of the Month is a partnership between School Crossing, The Virginia Gazette and WilliamsburgFamilies.com. Please take a minute to read about this great teaching duo and then vote for next month’s Teacher of the Month!
1. How long have you been teaching and teaching at The Goddard School as a teaching team?
Jessica Schofield – I have been working in a classroom for eight years. I have been teaching at this Goddard for close to a year and have been working with Yvonne since the beginning of the school year.
Yvonne Pittman – I started teaching five years ago when I joined Goddard. I have taught children from ages two to five. Jessica and I have been working together as a team for seven months.
2. What drew you to teaching, teaching at Goddard School?
Jessica Schofield -I have always loved working with children. Even as a little kid I used to play school, and I was always the teacher. I have really enjoyed working with the pre-k age group and seeing how much they learn between day one and the day they go off to Kindergarten. I love knowing that I am helping them get there.
Goddard has such a great program that allows learning to be really fun and for the children. I value the commitment that Goddard has to a play-based curriculum, while maintaining the children’s safety as top priority. Giving the children the opportunity to enjoy learning will continue to help them grow throughout their whole lives.
Yvonne Pittman – I love children! I liked the philosophy and reputation of the Goddard School.
3. Can you mention a project where you were able to engage the kids outside of the classroom or stories that you heard where they brought their learning home?
Jessica Schofield -There are so many great stories I hear. A parent recently came in (after we had done a lesson on vertebrates and invertebrates) and shared with me that when they were playing in their garden, their child pulled out a worm and said, “Look mom! An invertebrate!” When the children take what they learned in the classroom and apply it to the activities that they are doing outside of school it really makes me feel great.
Yvonne Pittman – An excited child went home, after learning all about museums, and created various artwork for her own museum. Then she and her mom went to visit an art museum.
4. What perspective have you gained from being around preK children all day?
Jessica Schofield – Everyday I’m reminded that life is beautiful and funny. They show me every day that you should get excited over the little things in life.
Yvonne Pittman – That life itself is a gift.
5. What do you want your students to be able to do when they leave your classroom – that you know will prepare them for further education and life in general?.
Jessica Schofield – I want my students to build self-esteem, to love learning, and to be willing and excited to try new things. I want them to be able to communicate and collaborate with their peers, and understand that it is ok to express their feelings. Mostly, I want them all to respect everyone.
Yvonne Pittman – I would like them to have confidence and self esteem.
6. If you could ask parents to do one thing to help their children’s academic success what would it be?
Jessica Schofield – Read to your children whenever you can. Also, think of new and unique ways of reinforcing their strengths. Learning doesn’t have to look like what we traditionally think learning looks like, it can take many forms. Play games, explore, have fun!
Yvonne Pittmann – Help their child form good study habits.
7. Do you have a favorite quote that inspires you and/or your class that you find you post, read, share or just meditate on?
Jessica Schofield – One of my favorite quotes is by John Dewey. “Education is not preparation for life; education is life itself.” It illustrates how education is always happening, and how education is not the end goal it’s the process.
Yvonne Pittman – Teamwork, teamwork. In our classroom we all try to work together and help each other.
8. Are you from Williamsburg? If not, where are you from, what brought you here?
Jessica Schofield – I was born and raised in New Jersey. My husband and I moved to Williamsburg about a year ago when he took a job at William & Mary and we love it!
Yvonne Pittman – No, I ‘m from Maryland. My husband is from Virginia, and when we got married we decided to move here. We liked the area and the
reputation of the school system.
9. Do you have any life lessons that the students in your class have taught you – maybe a short story about kindness, sharing or just a PreK’s perspective?
Jessica Schofield – No matter how tough life gets, no matter how challenging it is to be an adult, they always remind me of what’s really important in life.
Yvonne Pittman – Children at this age are so full of life, love and wonder!
Looks like we have two more really wonderful teachers to recognize in the Williamsburg area! Thank you to both Jessica Schofield and Yvonne Pittman for all they are doing for our littlest learners in the ‘Burg! If you have a teacher or teachers you would like to nominate – visit this link to vote for your choice of Teacher of the Month!
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