Many classroom teachers lose sight of the fact that most of what you are doing is evaluated by things that leave your classroom. Items such as attendance, letters, meetings, lesson plans, and deportment are scrutinized by the Administration. Many teachers foolishly think that if they prepare and “perform” well on the formal observation that they are in good shape. In reality this is far from the truth.

What the Administration looks at in conjunction with your formal observation is how you are fitting into the school environment and how you are working with other and finally how you are performing in your responsibilities overall.

I highly recommend to all classroom teachers to be very concerned with any documents that require your input and then are passed on to the office or other places in the school. This permits other people to look at what you have done and make assessments. If items are not turned in on time, signed, answered, or handled in the manner that the documents stipulate you are leaving yourself open to trouble. Make sure that all items that leave your room are on time and correct.

Further, if you should have any questions about what to do, first go to a lead teacher in your department and if that person does not have the answers you are looking for then see the Department Head or even the Assistant Principal. Above all things do not just let things go because you are busy or do not understand it. Be on top of all external documents (documents that stem from the office or District Office) and make sure you do what they ask of you and in the time frame stipulated.

I was born and raised on the south side of Chicago in Hyde Park Township, near the University of Chicago. As I child I was always drawing and painting. My father owned an art supply company, Favor Ruhl & Watson, where I was able to get all that I needed to progress in my work.

I have always enjoyed portraiture and landscape painting. In High School (Naperville Central High School) I took Drafting from Mr. Pierce. I quickly grasped the principles of perspective and drafting and hence made a career with both Fine Art and Architectural Renderings.

In the mid 1970's I joined the US Navy and was stationed on board the USS Midway, CV-41. The Midway was home ported in Yokosuka, Japan (A suburb of Tokyo). While in service I traveled all over Asia including such countries as Korea, China, Philippines, Singapore, Pakistan, Hong Kong, and Japan. While in Japan I learned Japanese. I speak German and Spanish as well.