My philosophy of education is grounded in the idea that teaching is both an art and a science, and decisions are made by what is in the best interest of the students. Schools should be cathedrals of learning with a balance of protected instructional time and planned extra-curricular and co-curricular activities, allowing each student and each teacher to find his or her niche. Teachers are not only the boots-on-the-ground, but they are also experts in their fields. Additionally, parents and the community are valuable partners within the school system.
Twenty-first century learning is more about exploration and inquiry and less about memorization and recitation. Learning should be active; learning should be challenging but achievable; learning should be relevant to students’ lives. I believe that education is the way out of poverty, and our most difficult classes to teach should have the least number of students with the best, experienced teachers and all the necessary resources we can provide. Technology is merely one of these resources. Purposeful planning and good instruction are the teacher’s most effective discipline plan, and safety and the law, as well as building and maintaining appropriate relationships are non-negotiables.
I believe that success looks different for every individual, but joy, laughter, and acceptance are universal and necessary for creating healthy, happy, educated citizens of the world.
On Twitter @m_westmoreland
9677 Florida Blvd
Walker, LA 70785
Main Office Phone Number: (225) 271-3200
My Office Phone Number: (225) 271-3207
Fax: (225) 664-4321
GRADES: As per district guidelines, students will have an average of two grades per week and be graded on the district grading scale, weighted as follows:
Major assessment 40%
Accuracy 35%
Participation/Completion 10%
End of Semester Exam (Parish Proficiency Exam) 15%
*There are some exceptions to these guidelines.