Tom Monzo, Jr.

State:

Pennsylvania

Testimonial from a participant

A quality individual that possesses the ability to combine a variety of instructional strategies with humor and an endearing personality, in order to create a comfortable, learning environment. A true professional! A+ Instructor!

— John Schmook, Yough School District, PA

PLS courses I teach:

• Meaningful Activities to Generate Interesting Classrooms™
• Purposeful Learning Through Multiple Intelligences®
• Teaching Through Learning Channels™
• Teaching the Skills of the 21st Century®
• Achieving Student Outcomes Through Cooperative Learning™
• PRIDE™ (Professional Refinements in Developing Effectiveness)
• Project TEACH™ (Teacher Effectiveness and Classroom Handling)

Years with PLS:

Since 2000

Why I love teaching PLS courses:

I've taken 9 PLS courses myself. I believe in their philosophy and I use the skills from PLS classes on a daily basis in my third grade classroom. PLS is more than a job to me. It's a way of life!

Education:

• Associate Degree in Liberal Arts, Community College of Allegheny County
• Bachelor's Degree in Elementary Education, California University of PA
• Master's Degree in Education, Indiana University of PA

Teaching experience:

• Elementary (Grades 3 through 6) — 11 years
• Junior High School (Summer School) — 3 years
• High School (Summer School) — 2 years

Related experience, recognition, awards, etc.:

• Penn Trafford School District's PRIDE Award (1999)
• YMCA Scholarship Recipient Membership Chairman — Penn Trafford Education Association

What I love most about teaching:

Inside of every real man is a child. Teaching allows me to return to those thrilling days of yesteryear!

My favorite moment in teaching:

Several years ago I taught a girl from the war torn country of Bosnia. Tijana wouldn't talk, even though she spoke fluent English. In April of that year, Tijana and several girls approached me about putting on the play, "A New Flag for a New Country," for the class. I agreed on one condition. Tijana had to have the leading role. It was music to my ears the first time that I heard Tijana rehearsing her part. She did a wonderful job and has become one of the most popular children in her class. I am proud that I gave her an opportunity to portray Betsy Ross!

Personal information:

I love classic and muscle cars from the 60's and 70's and music from the 80's! Ask me about my GTO!