For Professor George Theoharis, teaching is more than a job; it’s a reflection of his students’ influence. “They represent who I am as a teacher,” says the Syracuse University School of Education inclusive education and educational leadership teacher. “They mirror my behavior, attitude, and approach.”
The University is filled with teachers like Theoharis who foster mutual respect in the classroom. Studies show that a strong student-faculty connection leads to academic success and personal satisfaction.
It also increases the value of a Syracuse degree …
Finding Their Footing
George Theoharis is a professor of both Educational Leadership as well as Inclusive Childhood Education. The former K-12 teacher and principal estimates that he’s trained nearly a thousand undergraduates.
“I love it,” he exclaims. Some have been selected as Syracuse University Scholars; others have co-authored articles with him as Ph.D. students here and at other institutions.
“They teach me a lot about myself and why I do what I do at Syracuse. Helping students find their footing as undergraduates—teaching and mentoring them—is just as rewarding as learning from their experiences, perspectives and analyses. Working with future teachers of color, especially women interested in school leadership, has exposed me to a new, sustained area of scholarship.
“This has spilled over into my involvement with the Honors Program and the Syracuse Office of Undergraduate Research and Creative Engagement, both of which have awarded my students a significant number of grants.
“Helping students find their footing as undergraduates is just as rewarding as learning from their experiences.”
“For instance, numerous students of color have compelled me to change how I teach and think about issues of social justice and inclusion. It’s made me a more thoughtful and deliberate mentor.”
Adapted from “Professors Transformed by Student Voices” (Syracuse Stories).