Angel Teachers

Educators Who Care about Troubled Teens

William L. Fibkins

We know teenagers face many developmental issues as they navigate their path into adult life. They sometimes find themselves heading towards the margins of school life because of academic failure, poor peer relations, acting out behaviors, school and home pressures. Problems that often lead to risky behaviors behavior with drugs, alcohol, and tobacco addictions that in the end only complicate their young lives and offer them little relief. They need help, support, and guidance from caring and experienced adults who can help them redirect their lives. However " help" as it is organized in our large high schools, junior high schools, and middle schools is usually centered on a few overworked guidance counselors, social workers, and school psychologist who are increasingly finding themselves losing staff due to budget cuts. As a result school communities find themselves in a no-win situation in which the needs and problems of teenagers are the rise while the core of designated helpers in the school organization is being decimated or forced to abandon their helping and counseling role to take on administrative duties because of cuts in the administrative staff. This we know It is the new reality in our secondary schools. However there is a glimmer of hope in this dire scenario. It has given rise to the need for caring and experienced teachers to be given the green light to open their doors to kids in need. No, as any wise educator knows ,this is not a new role for teachers who see their role as not only an academic teacher but a personal adviser as well. They are what I call " angel teachers." Educators who care about kids well being. One can find these angel teachers in most secondary schools. They carry on their intervention with students in a quiet, trusting, private manner with little interest in notoriety or stardom. In fact that's why kids in need are attracted to them and lineup outside their door. Kids know these caring teachers can deliver the kind of help they need. Their savvy and know the drill of how help works for kids in need. But the valuable helping role of these angel teachers has often gone unheralded because the designated helpers in the school have been anointed, with that role. But today's circumstances call for change if our schools are to meet the need personal and well being needs of their students. We need to examine the role of these angel teachers and make the case that they are now needed to take a primary role in the schools intervention efforts. This book will explore how they arrive at this role, their skills, how they help kids and how they avoid becoming saviors, self-promoters, and in the helping process for their own self-esteem

R&L Education

Pages: 112 •

978-1-61048-594-4 • Paperback • August 2012 • $24.00 • (£17.95)

978-1-61048-595-1 • eBook • August 2012 • $22.50 • (£16.95)

Subjects: Education / Philosophy, Theory & Social Aspects, Education / Secondary

Angel Teachers

Educators Who Care about Troubled Teens

Paperback

eBook

Summary

We know teenagers face many developmental issues as they navigate their path into adult life. They sometimes find themselves heading towards the margins of school life because of academic failure, poor peer relations, acting out behaviors, school and home pressures. Problems that often lead to risky behaviors behavior with drugs, alcohol, and tobacco addictions that in the end only complicate their young lives and offer them little relief. They need help, support, and guidance from caring and experienced adults who can help them redirect their lives. However " help" as it is organized in our large high schools, junior high schools, and middle schools is usually centered on a few overworked guidance counselors, social workers, and school psychologist who are increasingly finding themselves losing staff due to budget cuts. As a result school communities find themselves in a no-win situation in which the needs and problems of teenagers are the rise while the core of designated helpers in the school organization is being decimated or forced to abandon their helping and counseling role to take on administrative duties because of cuts in the administrative staff. This we know It is the new reality in our secondary schools. However there is a glimmer of hope in this dire scenario. It has given rise to the need for caring and experienced teachers to be given the green light to open their doors to kids in need. No, as any wise educator knows ,this is not a new role for teachers who see their role as not only an academic teacher but a personal adviser as well. They are what I call " angel teachers." Educators who care about kids well being. One can find these angel teachers in most secondary schools. They carry on their intervention with students in a quiet, trusting, private manner with little interest in notoriety or stardom. In fact that's why kids in need are attracted to them and lineup outside their door. Kids know these caring teachers can deliver the kind of help they need. Their savvy and know the drill of how help works for kids in need. But the valuable helping role of these angel teachers has often gone unheralded because the designated helpers in the school have been anointed, with that role. But today's circumstances call for change if our schools are to meet the need personal and well being needs of their students. We need to examine the role of these angel teachers and make the case that they are now needed to take a primary role in the schools intervention efforts. This book will explore how they arrive at this role, their skills, how they help kids and how they avoid becoming saviors, self-promoters, and in the helping process for their own self-esteem

Details

R&L Education

Pages: 112 •

978-1-61048-594-4 • Paperback • August 2012 • $24.00 • (£17.95)

978-1-61048-595-1 • eBook • August 2012 • $22.50 • (£16.95)

Subjects: Education / Philosophy, Theory & Social Aspects, Education / Secondary

Author

William L. Fibkins is an author and educational consultant specializing in training programs for school administrators, teachers, pupil service professionals, support staff, students, and parents. He holds degrees in school administration, counselor education, and health education. from Syracuse University and the University of Massachusetts.

Table of Contents

Introduction
1. There Are Angel Teachers in Many Secondary Schools. We Need More.
2. The Kinds of Problems Troubled Teens Bring to Angel Teachers
3. The Presence of Angel Teachers Can Help Save the Lives of Desperate Teenagers
4. The Skills, Concerns, Issues and Ongoing Training Needs of Angel Teachers
5. Upgrading the Skills of Angel Teachers and Getting More Subject Matter Teachers on Board as Angel Teachers

Reviews

Mr. Fibkins accurately validates the need to recognize the significant impact our unsung heroes, the angel teachers, have on our youth. With refreshing candor, he pays tribute to those who intuitively continue to 'rescue' our students, allowing each to succeed and thrive. Mr. Fibkins reminds us that this recognition is much deserved and long overdue.

— Ann P. Rutherford, assistant principal, special education coordinator, DJ Bakie Elementary School

With piercing insights, Dr. Fibkins paints a picture of the world of troubled teenagers and the struggles they face in their daily personal and high school life. What does it take to recognize, reach out, and at times save the life of a student in need? Angel Teachers: Educators that Care About Troubled Teens demonstrates how it takes the whole community to raise a child. It is about those teachers on the front line, working side by side their students, that often save the day in a child's darkest hours. This book is a strong reminder that "every light along the path matters."

— Nancy Krakowka, staff developer and educator for Mattituck Cutchogue UFSD

William L. Fibkins provides an excellent view of the problems students bring with them when they enter the school-house doors. He explains the need for teachers to go beyond the classroom academics and do what is necessary to prepare themselves as "Angel Teachers." Fibkins' "Angel Teachers" are the ones students know will listen and find ways to help with their problems. This book is a must read for all teachers, administrators, guidance counselors, and other professional support staff. It puts into perspective the need for educators to develop the intervention skills that will prevent any troubled youth from falling through the cracks.

— Gail Wovna, clinical instructor, Kean University, former high school teacher

Fibkins is to be commended for acknowleding that troubled teens do not come exclusively from poor homes and absent parents. This book offers a means to facilitate the discussion among teachers and administrators about the roles and responsibilities of educators to offer empathy and support for struggling students, and the inventory indentifies the issues, concerns, and necessary skill sets and attitudes that might be useful in assessing the caring culture of a school. Fibkins draws on his educational and professional background in school administration and counselor education and on his own personal experiences to offer poignant examples of the impact caring eachers may have on the lives of their middle and high school students.
— Teachers College Record

Angel Teachers

Educators Who Care about Troubled Teens

William L. Fibkins

Angel Teachers

Educators Who Care about Troubled Teens

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