Teacher: Focus more on child, less on testing
A profile of Valley View Intermediate special education teacher Allison Batten:
How many years have you taught at Valley View?
This year I will complete my 22nd year as a special education teacher for Valley View Schools. I currently work with students in grades four through six. My work as a special educator is both challenging and rewarding.
In what ways do you work with other educators?
A big part of my job is collaborating with other professionals, including classroom teachers, speech therapists, and paraprofessionals. Collaboration is often time consuming, but it’s essential that I work closely with other professionals to help my students meet their learning goals.
Do you have concerns for the current state of education?
One of my biggest concerns is the current emphasis on standardized test scores in education. In a typical school year, my students grow in many different ways. It’s impossible to measure all aspects of their progress using standardized tests.
What valuable lessons have you learned as an educator?
Through years of teaching, I’ve learned the importance of looking at the whole child, rather than focusing solely on test scores. Every child has unique strengths, and there are many ways for each student to demonstrate success. Watching students grow in multiple ways is my favorite part of being a special education teacher.