Most adults, when looking back on their childhood years, remember a teacher or two that stood out among the others and made a profound impact on their learning experience. Most can recall that special educator who was dedicated to the profession and made a real connection with their students. Felipa Gaudet, a kindergarten teacher at Violet Avenue School, embodies those traits, and has been rewarded by being chosen as one of five finalists for the 2008 New York State Teacher of the Year award.
Gaudet has been teaching at Violet Avenue School for five years, and a large percentage of her students are English as a Second Language (ESL) students. “She has all the English language learners in the Hyde Park district in grades K through 2,” said Aviva Kafka, principal at Violet Avenue.
Gaudet, who holds a master’s degree in multicultural humanistics through the Education Department at SUNY New Paltz, also possesses a theater background and training in the Montessori philosophy of learning. The Montessori philosophy is a hands-on, self-correcting approach to learning that allows students to learn at their own pace, said Gaudet. She first learned the Montessori approach about 10 years ago while a young teacher in Kingston.
“It was a coming-of-age for me,” said Gaudet. “It’s a philosophy of observing children, and moving into a place where understanding who you’re teaching enables you to teach them better.”
As an ESL instructor, Gaudet works with many foreign students who speak only their native language when they first enter Violet Avenue. Kafka praised Gaudet for her acceptance of students from other cultures and noted that Gaudet “knows there’s a difference between language and intelligence.” In addition, said Kafka, Gaudet offers her students unconditional love and acceptance. “She has a very strong commitment to social justice and multiculturalism,” said Kafka. “She really speaks to a diverse society, and does some really wonderful things with the ESL program.”
Kafka added that Gaudet also utilizes her theater background to direct the school’s annual talent show, which has grown in popularity under Gaudet’s leadership; she also mentors older students, said Kafka. “She’s certainly passionate and extraordinary.”
Gaudet notes that many people underestimate the learning abilities of ESL students. “There’s a common misconception that children in here won’t learn as much,” said Gaudet, who said she looks beyond a student’s ability to speak English. “Intelligence is like an iceberg,” said Gaudet. “The tip of the iceberg is what people see, such as language and artwork. The bulk of the iceberg is what’s underneath.”
Students in Gaudet’s class are encouraged to share their language and culture with one another; on a given day they may be sharing favorite foods such as tamales and baklava, she said. “Each child brings something different to the classroom,” she added.
Gaudet, who describes her nomination as “a warm and pleasant surprise,” said a benefit to the nomination was being able to highlight her school. “It’s nice for the outside world to have a glimpse of what’s going on,” she said.
Gaudet acknowledged that the leadership and support of Kafka is a key to the success of the ESL program. “She enables people to become who they are as teachers, and that’s enormously important,” said Gaudet.