Most importantly there has to be support for the teacher by her or his family and school. So tonight I would like to acknowledge my support systems. Family support is essential. Remember, teaching is a lifestyle. My daughter Wendy has been my strongest supporter for many, many years.
Teaching is just too difficult without the support of loved ones.
And good teaching requires the support of the school administration. When I was hired to develop an optional program for our majors who wanted to be high school teachers, the support of David Elliott, former chair, and Timothy Hegstrom, current chair, along with members of our department teacher education committee, made it possible to go through the arduous process of University and State program approval. May those of you who have chosen this lifestyle receive the support of students, family and faculty that I have enjoyed. Finally, I would like to mention a course I also teach called Community Concepts, where SJSU students do volunteer work in the community for college credit. As you heard earlier in the program, many of our majors have done volunteer work.