Sara Roche: 2007 National KIND Teacher

Students in Sara Roche's classroom in sunny San Francisco, California, aren't only expected to do their best in math, reading, and the sciences, they're also expected to explore the world around them—and try to make it better! In addition to their regular academic curriculum, students in Roche's second-grade class should plan on choosing an organic pumpkin for Halloween, cleaning trash from beaches to protect marine life, and learning about cruelty-free products.

Roche, a teacher of five years, grew up on a ranch where she learned an appreciation for animals and the environment. Roche has long since left her childhood home, but this appreciation has stayed with her in ways that benefit the Star of the Sea School and her students.

Living in the San Francisco Bay area, Roche feels fortunate that she can travel with her students to Crissy Fields and Marine Headlands. On these trips, her students learn how to care for the Bay environment and the animals who live there. On one such trip, students participated in a mock seal rescue. Working with rescue volunteers, the children helped to remove rope and plastic soda can rings from an entangled and injured seal. Roche says these hands-on experiences get her students excited and chatty about the topic at hand. "After a field trip they want to learn more," she says. When students return to the classroom, they work together to develop plans on how they can help maintain a healthy Bay Area for all animals—including people.

On the Road Again...

Another trip, to an organic farm, allows students to see, touch, and learn about organic produce. This experience allows Roche's ethnically diverse students to put names to items (such as ears of corn) they may never have seen. "The activities help them to understand through doing and helps with language barriers."

Write On! 

Four days a week, Roche's students are required to write in their "Kindness Journals." One journal entry was in response to a story read in class about young whales who were trapped by winter ice during their migration. The students wrote about the ways in which the human rescuers were kind, and how the students could be kind to whales and all other ocean animals. Roche says the journals are a "building block." Not only do students get practice in writing, but discussion also leads to teamwork and how everyone can help to maintain a healthy environment.

In fact, readings and discussion in Roche's classroom often revolve around small projects and things the children can do to feel they are making a contribution to a better environment. Over the course of the year, "comradery among the students changes," says Roche. "The students have conversations about how to help each other or how to keep the schoolyard clean."

Hand-in-Hand

Roche is pleased to be named the National KIND Teacher for 2007. She thanks her school and community for lending "...complete support" in her endeavors to combine academics and humane education. In turn, the school and community thank her. Ms. Stella Bialous, parent of a student in Ms. Roche's class states, "We see the changes [Ms. Roche] has made in our children, in the questions they ask at home, in the way they act, in the small things they do, and in the things they teach us. Her love of nature and animals, and her commitment to others comes across in such a natural way, the children take these messages to heart. I firmly believe that 7-year-old by 7-year-old, Ms. Roche is slowly making a difference. That is her true gift."

If you know someone who should be recognized with the National KIND Teacher Award click here to nominate him or her.