Washtenaw County is home to many dedicated teachers and school leaders who work hard to educate students. While teaching styles may differ, these educators share a strong commitment to the values and philosophies they follow. We spoke with a few local educators to learn about their inspiration, teaching philosophies, and what makes their schools unique.
Susanna Brown, MEd
First Steps Early Childhood Division Supervisor
First Steps Early Childhood Division Supervisor
What inspires you in your career?
My inspiration is my interactions with families day-to-day. From first meeting and welcoming new babies during Infant Massage and Curious Wiggle Worms classes, I am invested in their lives. As they move into toddler classes like Fun at One or Jump Into Speech, I watch the relationships between children and their adults grow and develop. Observing those same children as 3, 4 and 5 year olds while participating in art, dance, sports, yoga or science camps and classes is amazing. This is what makes my job so special — the connections I’ve made with hundreds of families over the last nine years.
What is your teaching philosophy?
I lean mostly towards a Play-Based Philosophy. Young children learn best through purposeful, structured and unstructured play alongside their adults and peers. Developmentally-appropriate play promotes intellectual and physical development as well as builds skills in problem solving, creative thinking, language, social emotional regulation, decision making and so much more.
What do you think sets your school apart?
The First Steps Early Childhood program offers a variety of optimal early childhood settings — whether in a playroom, dance studio, school gymnasium or outside in the woods. Teachers and coaches lead adults with infants, toddlers and preschoolers in weekly classes and week-long camps to support the crucial early years of brain development, building community between families not just from Ann Arbor, but from all over Southeast Michigan with diverse cultural backgrounds. We have the best families — parents, grandparents, nannies and children — who participate in our year round classes and seasonal camps!
Patricia Strassburg
Kindergarten teacher
What inspires you in your career?
As a kindergarten teacher I am always inspired and excited by how my young students come into the beginning of school knowing what they know but by the end of the school year they are overflowing with so much knowledge and understanding of not only academics but show maturity, independence and confidence. Each year, I strive to learn new ways to teach and enhance our curriculum so I can reach all the students and help them strive to do their best. I work with a staff that is excited to come to school each day and share ideas to enhance our students’ learning experiences. Our faith brings us together to help us inspire our students to live their faith too.
What is your teaching philosophy?
I have always believed that teaching is more than presenting information to students. It is about seeing each child’s unique gifts that they bring to our classroom and helping them be their best. It shows students how they can persevere when the things they are learning are difficult. One of my famous sayings is “You have to push through the hard to get to the easy, so let’s do it!” Finally, as a teacher of young children, I must be able to go with their flow and create lessons that pique their interests, allow them to be active learners and of course, be a little silly sometimes. I am blessed to play a part in my students’ school lives guiding them to be future saints and scholars.
What do you think sets your school apart?
As a smaller school, administration, teachers, parents and students create a strong community. Our school is preschool to seventh grade which gives opportunities for students of different ages to spend time together with academic and fun activities. We also hold school-wide special events and service projects. We start our day together discussing virtues and saints and end our day in prayer. Each teacher can create relationships with students outside of their teaching grade and see the students throughout their years at St. Andrew School. You will see teachers and students high fiving each other, praying together, and building strong relationships to help students succeed.
