Observation Interview
Questions
What is your philosophy of education?
How has your philosophy changed as you
gained experience?
What values do you try to foster in your
classroom/students? How do you do this?
What do you believe is the role of a teacher?
Wolff's Response
“Life is education, it should and does not live
in the four walls of a classroom. Learning is
about being able to grow as a person. My
goal as a teacher is to help students to grow
as a person. I am not focused on the content
standard and the curriculum. I help students
understand that they can grow and that their
growth will not be linear. My philosophy has
not necessarily changed because even from
the very beginning when I first started
working in public education it was more about
them being able to grow and showing
students with the right guidance and coaching
they can achieve whatever they want.
Although my viewpoint of public education
has changed. I went to a charter school and
now realize that the system is not working for
both the students and teachers.”
“ My main focus is character development
which is a big focus on social and emotional
development. I do not think that there is
anything more important than that because
the strength and resilience of a person is built
through being able to carry themselves with
integrity, understand how to make good
choices, that mistakes are very important to
make an accept and to love yourself through
it, having compassion, self-compassion,
understating that failure is something we
should not be afraid of but an opportunity to
see how we can grow. Education is based on
pass and fail and I do not agree with it. I
believe that no kid should fail if they put effort
at the level they are at. Like if a student
struggles acting appropriately in class the
student should learn how to act appropriately
for no other reason than because they are
worthy. When students understand that they
deserve education and learning everything
else falls in line.”
“ I believe as teachers we are like students'
second set of parents in a way. We work with
the parents because we are trained and not
all parents are trained. We not only help give

What were/are some of the biggest
challenges you face as a teacher? How did
you overcome them? How do you keep work
life separate from home life?
How do you manage your classroom to
ensure an effective learning environment?
children a way to feel empowered in their
choices but help parents feel empowered
about how they can support and love their
children. I hear a lot from my students that
their parents tell them that they are a failure
and that they are worthless. What if as
teachers we can tell parents that this is
building at the problem they are seeing.”
“ My biggest challenge is that there is too
much. We are required to do way too much,
especially as a special education teacher,
because of the laws in place. The spectrum
of need of students is so wide, some students
need consistent help and some may not need
as much but we are asked to do it all. There
is no way for me to give intervention in the
way students need. For my caseload of 28
students I think I need at least 4 special
education teachers and then additionally
paras in every classroom. I think paras
should not only be for special education
students but for all students. This is the
hardest thing we are asked to do. That is
something where we are always going to fail
and failure is the hardest thing. I do not want
to fail these kids. I have not overcome this
challenge yet. As for keeping work and home
life separate I am not always able to do it,
sometimes it comes home in complaining and
frustration and does become exhausting. Yes
I can help a few students she is in contact
with everyday.”
“ I reward them, reinforce the behaviors I
want, I am not always perfect. Try to build
relationships with the kids so I can get to
know them on an individual level. It is really
hard. I use a ticket reward system, where at
the end of the week students are able to
redeem their tickets. Positive reinforcement at
the middle school level is hugely important
but without the relationship it doesn't work. I
have to convince them to respect me. This
system even worked at the high school level.
I see that everyone is valuable and shows
that through gifts and a lot of people like gifts.
Yes it cost me money but the rewards
outweigh what I lose in finances. I am willing
to invest into making it better for the students
 to feel appreciated for the work they do.”

Can you describe ways you are able to
collaborate with general education teachers
as well as parents? What worked and what
did not?
“The number one thing that has to happen is
we need to be given time to collaborate
because collaboration is the key way to make
everyone feel like they get the support they
need. All we need to do is have time for
discussion on how we can connect curriculum
to differentiation and scaffolding to help more
students feel like they can get it. For parents,
a constant conversation to make them feel
like they are a part of it and what kids are
needing and how to support them. I tell my
parents we are a team. When the general
education teacher feels supported by the
special education teacher and vice versa they
feel like it is attainable and understand the
students needs and can then approach them
that way.”

What do you want you students to take away
from their learning experience with you?
“ I want my students to know that they are
capable. I want them to feel empowered in
everything that they do so that there is an
easy way for them to do whatever they want.
If a kid worked hard enough they would
understand that the real power is grit. They
can do whatever they want.”
Used our experience when I was in school as
an example.

What do you consider your biggest
accomplishment as a teacher?
“ I previously worked at Meridian High School
for three years. My biggest accomplishment
is having all of her seniors graduate. Some of
my students were really on brink of not
graduating but I was able to work with them
to make it happen”

Summary

I have known Wolff since my sophomore year of high school and we have always had a strong
relationship. Given the opportunity to interview her about what it is really like beyond the surface
was very eye opening. I feel like after hearing some of this stuff people turn away and are
scared but honestly it fueled me even more. I have very similar views as Wolff on many topics
so this helped me construct a more stable view of becoming a special education teacher. Wolff
explained the hardships that come with being a special education teacher but it all really comes
to truly caring for your students. Wollff does not spend hours worrying about the curriculum or
content but the students. Wolff wants her students to believe in themselves so she shows that
she believes in them to show them their worth. Hearing her answer this question I was able to
look back to when she was my teacher and I saw everything she said when she was my teacher
and when I was observing her.