Teacher of the Year Travels Worldwide, Misses Middlebury QUESTION & ANSWER

Author: Meghan Michelson

Michele Forman,a social studies and history teacher at Middlebury Union High School for 16 years, was rewarded with the title of 2001 National Teacher of the Year last April. She was the first Vermont educator ever to receive this award, which is joint-sponsored by the Council of Chief State School Officers and Scholastic Inc.
She is on leave this year from her position at the high school to serve as a full-time national and international spokesperson for teachers. The following is an interview with Forman in question-and-answer format.

Campus: What life experiences have you had that have contributed to your job as a teacher?
Forman: I've had some fine teachers. I've learned that people love teachers, and almost all of us have had important teachers at one time or another. I think I have the greatest job in the world.

Campus: What initially brought you into a teaching career?
Forman: The Peace Corps made me a teacher. After I got my bachelor's degree, I went to Nepal in 1967 and taught for two years.

Campus: What brought you to Vermont?
Forman: During college I often came to Vermont on vacation. I love mountains and hiking. After the Peace Corps, I married and, by design, looked for a job and moved to Vermont. We've been here 32 years and raised three children here.
Campus: What qualities do you think make for a good teacher, specifically a high school teacher?
Forman: The qualities are the same for any teacher. First is the dedication to the field of teaching and the importance of teaching. Deep content of knowledge and understanding of the learning process and, in the case of high school students, how young people develop and learn are also important.
Beyond that there has to be passion and love of the discipline and deep belief for the importance of the discipline and obviously caring for the people one teaches.

Campus: What distinguishes you from other good teachers?
Forman: I think in matter of degree I'm not the best teacher, but I'm the lucky one who has been picked out to represent teachers this year. I'm passionate about what I do and I have a broad base of experience.

Campus: What advice do you have for aspiring teachers?
Forman: We desperately need teachers. It is the most rewarding profession that I can think of and the most important. I strongly encourage students to pursue a career in the field of education. It is extremely hard work, but the rewards are commensurate.

Campus: You recently learned and began teaching the Arabic language as part of your study of world history. What was the purpose of this and how has it helped in your teaching?
Forman: I spent three summers at the Middlebury College Arabic Summer Language School, thanks to the College, in order to get a greater understanding of world history and the world of Islam. My class at the high school became the first Arabic language class in Vermont. It meets three days a week, and this year, because I am on leave, there is a substitute teacher who is a volunteer from the College. It is offered as a non-credit course, and students come simply for the joy of learning Arabic. We have a good time.

Campus: You have won National Teacher of the Year. What's next on your list of things to accomplish?
Forman: In the fall, I'm returning to my classroom in Middlebury. That's who I am professionally, and that's where I belong. I've had a great year, but I miss my students terribly. I've traveled all over, but I know where I belong.