EVOLVE Business and Professional Magazine August 2017 | Page 13

Our
CHARACTERS
A PROFILE OF THE PEOPLE WHO
MAKE VOLUSIA COUNTY UNIQUE
From Competitive Figure Skater to Educator, Joy Lewis
Explains Why Teaching is a Team Sport.
by Zach Bass
3
Why do you teach?
I have the best of both worlds teaching at Daytona State. I
missed working with the kiddos every day at school, and
through partnerships with Volusia and Flagler County
Schools I get to teach my students about teaching reading out at
schools with K12 students! Our future teachers say that when they
get to see me model the strategies that they’ve been reading and
learning about, it makes it all come together for them, which is the
biggest reason I teach and why I love training new teachers.
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1
The best teachers
never stop learning.
Very few people can say that they competed at the highest level of
their sport. What did it take to achieve that and what did you carry,
if anything, from that experience into teaching?
The act of training competitively for anything is challenging and
requires sacrifices and discipline. Life is full of challenges and
skating helped teach me how to stay calm and graceful under
pressure, since there is often a camera in your face after you've just
fallen on your butt! The fact that I'm a figure skater and competed
in a solo sport has shown me how much I love working on a
team. Teaching is a team sport, filled with stakeholders from the
community. Parents, students, colleagues — all working toward the
greater good of the children!
2
The theme of this month’s issue is Workforce Training and
Development. What are some ways that you have developed your
skills as a professional?
The best teachers never stop learning. Professionally, I’ve had
so many opportunities to stay a learner while being a teacher.
Through local school districts and Daytona State College I’ve been
able to observe other teachers and collaborate with them in the
classroom. Ultimately, the Daytona State future teachers in my
courses benefit also, as they get to see what I’ve learned from the
public school teachers. I’m able to make connections from years
of research and classroom teaching to the practice that I’ve
observed and have now taught them! It’s all very cyclical, and
very collaborative.
What makes Daytona State College’s School of Education unique
amongst other schools?
The Daytona State College School of Education requires
that all future teachers spend a significant amo unt of time
in classrooms during their coursework. Assignments are done
with K12 students alongside supervising teachers in Volusia and
Flagler Counties who enjoy training our students and have a
passion for impacting the lives of children. So much time spent
in the classroom allows our future teachers to truly see the daily
operations of a school and classroom. Upon graduation, they’re
very well prepared to teach!
5
What’s one issue related to education in Volusia County that you
wish more of the public knew about?
I wish that the public knew more about the tremendous
opportunities that are available to students and families through
Volusia County Public Schools. Rigorous IB programs, unique
academies, and championship athletic programs. And that’s
just at the high school level! Elementary and middle schools are
making incredible gains and the district leadership is driven and
determined to continue that growth.
6
What makes you a character?
I’m going to approach the word ‘character’ as a noun,
adjective and verb! I’m a character because I’m a dramatic,
loud, typical New York transplant. I come across as bossy and I
interrupt people way too often, two things which I’m working on
improving every day. I’ve been told that my passion for teaching
is contagious...and dangerous. While I teach, my arms flail around
and I’ve been known to inadvertently throw things across the room
due to enthusiastic hand gestures. I’m not sure if this makes me
sound like a “character” or like a lunatic. They say that all the best
teachers are crazy. If so, I’m proud to be in good company!
Zach Bass is the Director of Marketing for Dougherty
Manufacturing, located in Edgewater, FL. In addition
to his job responsibilities, he is a board member of the
Daytona State College Foundation, Halifax Health and New
Smyrna’s Committee on Economic Development.
AUGUST 2017 | 13 |