Guardians of the Next Generation

Dr. Nicholas D. Young has worked in diverse educational roles for more than 28 years, serving as a principal, special education director, graduate professor, graduate program director, graduate dean, and longtime superintendent of schools. He was named the Massachusetts Superintendent of the Year; and he completed a distinguished Fulbright program focused on the Japanese educational system through the collegiate level. Kristen Bonanno-Sotiropoulos has worked in education at various levels for more than a dozen years. Her professional career within K12 public education included roles as a special education teacher and special education administrator at the elementary and middle school levels. After her tenure in K12, she transitioned to higher education to teach undergraduate and graduate courses as an Assistant Professor of Special Education at Springfield College located in Springfield, Massachusetts.Jennifer A. Smolinski has worked in education for more than three years. Her role within higher education includes the creation and directing of the Center for Disability Services and Academic Accommodations at American International College located in Springfield, Massachusetts. She has also taught criminal justice and legal research and writing classes within the field of higher education. Prior to her work at the collegiate level, Attorney Smolinski worked as a solo-practitioner conducting education and disability advocacy as well as representing clients in real estate and business matters.

Guardians of the Next Generation: Igniting the Passion for High Quality Teaching, offers tremendous insight into the best practices for creating and supporting effective teaching principles. This book examines the many components that go into maintaining high-quality educational environments that support teaching and learning, student achievement, and personal growth.

• PrefaceAcknowledgementsChapter 1- Preservice to Practice: Preparing Teachers to Make A Difference Chapter 2- Collaboration is Key: Embracing Meaningful TeamworkChapter 3- The Home-School Connection: Promoting and Sustaining Successful Partnerships Chapter 4- Positive Classroom Management: Establishing Beneficial Expectations and NormsChapter 5- Effective Instruction: Evidence-Based and High-Quality PracticesChapter 6- Promoting Student Engagement: Setting the Conditions for SuccessChapter 7- Using Assessment Wisely: Creating, Analyzing, and Moving Forward from Data Chapter 8- Teaching the Whole Child: The Importance of Social Emotional LearningChapter 9- Potent Administrative Practices: Empowering Teachers to Foster Student Achievement Chapter 10- Integrating Technology, Teaching, and Learning: Changing with the TimesChapter 11- Making Professional Development Meaningful: Promising Approaches and PracticesChapter 12- Keeping Teachers on the Straight and Narrow: Understanding the Fundamentals of School LawAbout the Authors