I received my teaching certificate in 1966, have taught in public, parochial, private and charter schools. I was with SSIS when it first started. I am certified to teach in both New York and Florida and am also ESE certified here in Florida.
Along with teaching, I was an EMT in NY State, office manager of a large pediatric medical practice here in Sarasota, and Administrative Assistant at Michael’s Learning Center at the JCC.
I am a co-founder and on the Board of Racing Dog Rescue Project, Inc, and when able, volunteer at the Dolphin and Whale Hospital of Mote Marine Laboratory.
Classroom Philosophy – Especially as a kindergarten teacher, I think the most important jobs I have are to respect the fragility of the little ones with whom I interact, inspire in each a feeling of self-confidence and create a lifelong love of learning. As a daily reminder, I have kept the following quote by Dr. Hiam G. Ginott close at hand. It helps me remember that “teaching” and “instructing” are two very different things.
“I have come to a frightening conclusion. I am the decisive element in the classroom. It is my personal approach that creates the climate. It is my daily mood that makes the weather.
As a teacher, I possess tremendous power to make a child’s life miserable or joyous. I can be a tool of torture or an instrument of inspiration. I can humiliate or humour, hurt or heal. In all situations it is my response that decides whether a crisis will be escaped or de-escalated and a child humanized or de-humanized.”
Mrs. Ingrid Messina
