Name: Stacey Roshan
School: Bullis School
Current title: Upper School Math and Computer Teacher
Selected accolades: New York Times feature, The Journal, The Daily Riff, Bethesda Magazine, US News and World Reports – Study: Emerging Technology Has Positive Impact in Classroom

What is the best part of your job?

My goal when becoming a teacher was to make more kids like math. That is what I seek to do on a daily basis, and I absolutely adore it. I get to play and learn with kids, observe their likes and dislikes, and then customize my approach to best fit what I see.

I am addicted to learning, a bit of a tech/gadget geek, and am fascinated by psychology. As a teacher I am able to satisfy my curiosity of all of the above.

You’ve received recognition for using the internet to connect with students and enhance learning. How do you differentiate your personal and professional digital identity?

There is a large overlap between my personal and professional identity. Being a teacher is a big part of who I am.

As far as sharing on the internet, I keep my personal life relatively private. However, I rely on the internet more and more in my professional life. I am constantly learning from others through twitter, blogging, etc, which has given me the opportunity to collaborate with teachers from around the country.

What skill(s) do you feel are most important for today’s students to explore in academic settings (tech or non-tech related)?

One of the most important skills I can help my students develop is the ability to be an independent learner. This will not only prepare them for college, but also for life. By providing resources (specifically video lectures) that students can play and replay, and then gently pushing them to answer more of their own questions (or seek the help of peers), I feel that they are strengthening this skill.

How do you use formative and/or summative assessment in the classroom to let students understand progress and mastery?

One of the best ways to learn is through teaching. As teachers, we know this so well.

I am increasingly asking students to create their own video lectures and will be doing a lot more of this in the upcoming school year. Additionally, students now spend class time working through problems with their peers while I walk around the room listening and observing (and joining in THEIR discussions). Students often replay portions of the video lectures I have created to aid in their explanation, which just reinforces the material and promotes the deep understanding required.

I am a big believer in traditional quizzes and tests, especially in an AP course. I am preparing them for a very big test and traditional assessments help me ensure that I am properly equipping them with the tools they will need for the exam.