http://disqus.com/by/bc09/enFri, 14 Aug 2009 10:13:57 -0000http://spotlightnews.com/spotlightnews/article.php?article_id=tK1250110093t4a832a8d4ad84#comment-14833166<p>It surprises you that Bethlehem students are reading newspapers? Come on, have a little faith. </p>bc09Fri, 14 Aug 2009 10:13:57 -0000http://spotlightnews.com/spotlightnews/article.php?article_id=tK1250110093t4a832a8d4ad84#comment-14830017<p>First of all, contrary to the nasty remarks some have left about Dr. Mike Tebbano and Ms. Jody Monroe, as a recently graduated student I feel that both are doing a terrific job as the leaders of this school district. They are typically fair, kind, student-minded, and extremely hard working people, and we are lucky to have them here in Bethlehem.</p><p>That said, I was also a student in Dr. Waltz' class this past year, and I feel that the perspective that she brought to the classroom was invaluable and irreplaceable. Living in Taiwan for over a decade, holding not just a master's degree but a doctorate, and not being a native speaker of Mandarin but someone who had to learn it just as her students do, were just some of the many things that made Dr. Waltz unique and wonderful.</p><p>I believe that it was personal conflict and petty differences that prevented Dr. Waltz from continuing to educate the students of Bethlehem, and that is a shame. Is Dr. Waltz the most traditional high school teacher? No. She is smarter than the traditional high school teacher. Is Dr. Waltz the most by-the-book? No. She is more creative and original than those who teach completely by-the-book. She was always interesting in the classroom, and is someone who clearly loves her job more than almost anyone I've come into contact with.</p><p>The amount of time she spent preparing for class outside of the classroom was truly inspirational, and it included such things as developing an interactive website, one more developed and professional than any I've seen created by a teacher in all of my years in the district.</p><p>There are a lot of talented and dedicated people working in the Bethlehem Central School District. Unfortunately that number has now been reduced by one.</p>bc09Fri, 14 Aug 2009 08:46:54 -0000