So a little bit about me…
Let’s start with the usual stuff. I began my educational journey at SDSU where I received my BA in Social Science. After a brief stint in law school, I attended USD where I received my single-subject teaching credential for Social Science and a MEd in Curriculum and Instruction.
Moving past the usual stuff, I was born and raised here in beautiful San Diego and fully embrace the San Diego lifestyle; so yes, I love beach, love to surf, and consider flip flops, sunshine, and a borderline unhealthy obsession with burritos and carne asada fries to be defining characteristics of what it truly means to live in San Diego. I am also a swimmer and (former) water polo player. I have competed in and coached swimming and water polo for the majority of my natural born life and I love it. I do have land based passions, believe it or not, some of which include beach volleyball, cooking, writing, history, and an odd fascination with learning words. When I am not in the classroom you can usually find me hanging out with my friends, drinking coffee and watching a movie, at the beach, on a pool deck, or surfing. I love to laugh and have a deep appreciation for thoughtfulness, empathy, and tolerance, which is why I adhere to the golden rule of "do unto others as you would have them do unto you". I firmly believe these qualities are the secrets to happiness and, in my opinion, help lead to a meaningful life.
Now on to the teacher stuff. For as long as I remember, I have wanted to be a teacher. My passion for teaching began with coaching as I realized I had a passion for working with kids. Then, as I continued on my educational jaunt, I rediscovered a passion for social studies. It quickly became clear to me I could combine both of these passions and have the best of both worlds by becoming a teacher.
As an educator, I love the joy and thrill of the creative effort and seek to bring laughter and excitement into my classroom to help my students think critically and creatively. Further, I feel it is my responsibility to guide students and facilitate their learning through meaningful experiences so they become responsible members of not only their local community, but also our global community as well. Overall, I strive to inspire the students that walk into my classroom and teach students to learn from the past, act in the present, and ameliorate the future.
Regards,
Thomas Faucher
Teaching is both my passion and chosen profession, so when I have a chance to discuss education, I have a hard time stopping. Feel free to engage me in a discussion anytime, anywhere—we can talk far and wide. Below I've listed a few of my educational “beliefs," in no order of importance. While the list could go on forever, this is simply a starting point to help you get a sense of who I am as a teacher. Of course I am constantly evolving with every student interaction, every book/article I read, every discussion with a fellow colleague I have, and with every new location I work at. Teaching is synonymous with learning, which is why I enjoy it so much. So without further ado, here's me as a teacher in a nutshell:
-Every student has the right to learn something new every day. Furthermore, a gifted student has as much a right to learn new things on his/her own level as any other student. As a teacher, it is my ethical obligation to ensure every student is learning, every single day.
-Mistakes are an essential part of the learning process. If we never take risks, it is nearly impossible to grow. My goal is to create a space where every student feels comfortable taking academic risks and knows they will be supported when those risks result in mistakes. I want all of my students to be learning "on the edge," it is so much more productive and exciting that way!
-Education is about the journey, not the destination. All of the detours, side-conversations, and student-led explorations are an important parts of the learning process, not distractions. Looking at education from this lens leaves room for students to nurture and explore their own passions, to grow as socially responsible individuals within a community, and to experience the power of building and uncovering their own truths through exploration.
-A classroom is a family. It is, indeed, that complex. The only universal fact is every single member is essential to the health of the entire family. Like any family, while we may have disagreements and struggles at times, at the end of the day, we always have each other's backs.
-A learning community should celebrate the passions and talents of all of its individuals. While we do not have to share the same interests and talents, we must always respect and encourage these in one another. We are all unique individuals and together we can learn from one another and do great things! Our world desperately needs divergent, creative thinkers, and the talents of every student must be nurtured, not discouraged.
-I aspire towards my own obsolescence in the classroom. That is, my goal is for my students to become so independent and peer-reliant that I am simply the rather large fly on the wall that occasionally butts in with a well-timed question.
-Expect more, and then even more. Have the highest expectations for yourself, your peers, your students, and the world around you.
All in all, I love teaching. It is such a blessing to have a job I can be excited about every morning when I wake up. While these are only a few of my education “beliefs”, I encourage you to please explore my website and continue to get an insight as to who I am as an educator and person. Should you have any questions for me, please feel free to email me at tfaucher@sandi.net.