Mark H. Lange
Educational Philosophy

I am a National Board Certified Teacher (NBCT) in Adolescence and Young Adulthood/English Language Arts and I have eighteen years of teaching experience. I have enjoyed a rich and rewarding career working with children both at home in Florida in the United States and internationally as an exchange teacher, as an international educator, and as Department of Defense Dependents School teacher. A few of my many strengths are that I work well with people, am fiercely passionate about what I do, and constantly look for ways to improve the impact I have on the lives of my students both in and out of the classroom. My success as a teacher is clearly linked to my educational philosophy:

I believe that each student is a unique individual with unlimited potential. My ultimate mission as an educator is to prepare students to be vibrant, focused, responsible, productive, respectful, environmentally aware, interdependent citizens of our common home

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To facilitate my mission, I abide by a fundamental principle that guides the educational process in my classroom: what we do is interesting, important, and fun. Education should prepare students to take ideas from the classroom and apply them to situations outside the classroom. Students must be taught how to learn and how to think. I treat my students as an extension of myself. This way, the improvement of the student is also the improvement of the teacher. This explains why I teach since I too am a student in search of self-improvement.

There are five key ingredients to skillful teaching:
• Plant the seed of inspiration
• Share excitement and love for learning
• Structure a healthy, respectful, accepting environment
• Provide nourishment and motivation
• Encourage and allow independence

I teach because I have a passion for learning and accomplishment! I am committed and honored to be part of the process that nurtures and produces individuals who strive for excellence for themselves, their peers and their community.