2007.10.22: October 22, 2007: Headlines: COS - Morocco: Secondary Education: Asheville Citizen-Times: Morocco RPCV Vince Floriani recognized in USA Today's All-USA Teacher Team

Peace Corps Online: Directory: Morocco: Peace Corps Morocco : Peace Corps Morocco: Newest Stories: 2007.10.22: October 22, 2007: Headlines: COS - Morocco: Secondary Education: Asheville Citizen-Times: Morocco RPCV Vince Floriani recognized in USA Today's All-USA Teacher Team

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Morocco RPCV Vince Floriani recognized in USA Today's All-USA Teacher Team

Morocco RPCV Vince Floriani recognized in USA Today's All-USA Teacher Team

Floriani began teaching as a Peace Corps Fellow 13 years ago. After serving in the Peace Corps in Morocco for two years, he began teaching in the program, which sent him to an underserved school in Baltimore while he got his teaching license at night. Making it through that first challenging year of teaching was a huge accomplishment, he said. “I found out I was really good at teaching,” he said. “I am a performer. I’m empathetic. I can sense stuff really well.” In addition to teaching, Floriani is also a musician. He writes his own children’s music and has released four CDs. His CD “Swing For The Sky” won the silver honor from the Parent’s Choice Foundation, a nonprofit guide to children’s media and toys. He also spent time as an improv actor, radio disc jockey, journalist and has acted in an off-Broadway play, all experiences that have influenced his teaching. “He’s very intent on children being independent learners, and he is as creative and sensitive to the needs of children as anybody I’ve ever worked with,” said Charlotte Moore, assistant principal of Claxton Elementary. “He’s innovative. He’s creative and develops relationships with children that are effective.”

Morocco RPCV Vince Floriani recognized in USA Today's All-USA Teacher Team

Claxton’s ‘All-USA’ teacher has a colorful history

by Ashley Wilson ,AWILSON@CITIZEN-TIMES.COM

published October 22, 2007 12:15 am

Caption: Vince Floriani, with his fourth-grade class at Claxton Elementary, was chosen as a member of USA TODAY’s All-USA Teacher Team. Photo: Erin Brethauer

ASHEVILLE — In Vince Floriani’s classroom sounds of kids singing, guitars humming and feet tapping can be heard.

His fourth-grade students are writing their own song about the Cherokee Indians accompanied by Floriani playing the guitar.

The teacher at Claxton Elementary is one of 20 kindergarten through 12th-grade educators from across the country recognized in USA TODAY’s All-USA Teacher Team. The team honors individuals and instructional teams as representatives of outstanding teachers. Each teacher wins $500 and $2,000 for their schools and are featured in the newspaper.

“I am really flattered and very honored,” he said. “To be recognized nationally as a teacher. It’s just a real feather in my cap to be recognized by people who don’t even know me.”

Floriani began teaching as a Peace Corps Fellow 13 years ago. After serving in the Peace Corps in Morocco for two years, he began teaching in the program, which sent him to an underserved school in Baltimore while he got his teaching license at night. Making it through that first challenging year of teaching was a huge accomplishment, he said.

“I found out I was really good at teaching,” he said. “I am a performer. I’m empathetic. I can sense stuff really well.”

In addition to teaching, Floriani is also a musician. He writes his own children’s music and has released four CDs. His CD “Swing For The Sky” won the silver honor from the Parent’s Choice Foundation, a nonprofit guide to children’s media and toys.

He also spent time as an improv actor, radio disc jockey, journalist and has acted in an off-Broadway play, all experiences that have influenced his teaching.

“He’s very intent on children being independent learners, and he is as creative and sensitive to the needs of children as anybody I’ve ever worked with,” said Charlotte Moore, assistant principal of Claxton Elementary. “He’s innovative. He’s creative and develops relationships with children that are effective.”

An infrequent lecturer, Floriani likes to keep his class busy with different hands-on activities and group work. He enjoys integrating music into his history and writing lessons, but also likes teaching math and science and reading books to his students.

Although he loves teaching, his biggest challenge is educating kids from a variety of backgrounds, he said.

“You have kids whose parents have obviously been reading to them since they were in the womb and then you have kids who are just learning what they get here in school, and they are as smart as the next kid,” he said. “You only have so many hours in the day to teach them.”

A panel of judges, including former members of the team, selected the winners. Teachers could be nominated by school administrators, students, parents, colleagues or family members. Floriani was nominated by former principal of Claxton Elementary Carol Ray.

After being nominated, teachers had to fill out an application, which asked their school and students’ needs and what they have done to meet them.
LEARN MORE

For more information about Vince Floriani visit www.vincejunior.com.

For more information about the USA TODAY All-USA Teacher Team visit www.allstars.usatoday.com.




Links to Related Topics (Tags):

Headlines: October, 2007; Peace Corps Morocco; Directory of Morocco RPCVs; Messages and Announcements for Morocco RPCVs; Secondary Education; North Carolina





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Story Source: Asheville Citizen-Times

This story has been posted in the following forums: : Headlines; COS - Morocco; Secondary Education

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