Rachel Boettigheimer is a Special Education Teacher from Valhalla, New York, recognized for her innovative approach to integrating global cultures into her classroom. With a Bachelor’s degree from Mercy College and a Master’s in Special Education from the College of New Rochelle, Rachel has dedicated her career to enhancing the educational experiences of students with diverse learning needs. Her teaching philosophy is deeply influenced by her personal experiences, including a transformative stint in the Walt Disney World College Program and extensive travels, which she skillfully incorporates into her teaching methods.
Rachel is adept at using technology and literature to make learning accessible and engaging, and she champions the inclusion of global awareness in the curriculum to foster empathy and understanding among her students. Beyond the classroom, she is active in community service projects and educational development initiatives such as DonorsChoose and the MS Walkathon. Rachel’s commitment to education is driven by a passion to create an inclusive environment that celebrates every student’s potential while preparing them to become empathetic global citizens.
What is your typical day, and how do you make it productive?
My typical day starts early with a mindfulness exercise to set a positive tone. I then dive into lesson planning and adapting materials to meet my students’ unique needs. Interaction with students fills most of my day, using diverse activities to keep the classroom engaging. To stay productive, I prioritize tasks and maintain a flexible yet structured schedule that adapts to the dynamic classroom environment.
How do you bring ideas to life?
I bring ideas to life through collaboration and experimentation. Whether it’s integrating a new teaching tool or a cultural learning activity, I often discuss these ideas with colleagues and modify them based on feedback from my students. This iterative process ensures that the ideas are not only brought to life but are effective and engaging.
What’s one trend that excites you?
The trend towards more inclusive and adaptive technologies in the classroom excites me. These technologies allow for more personalized learning experiences, especially beneficial in special education, where each student’s needs can be quite distinct.
What is one habit that helps you be productive?
One habit that boosts my productivity is daily planning and reflection. Each morning, I outline my goals for the day, and each evening, I reflect on what was accomplished and what could be improved. This helps me stay focused and continually evolve my teaching methods.
What advice would you give your younger self?
I would tell my younger self to embrace every challenge as an opportunity to learn and grow. I’d stress the importance of patience and persistence in achieving professional and personal goals.
Tell us something you believe almost nobody agrees with you on?
I believe that integrating global cultural education into everyday curriculum from a very young age is crucial. While some may see it as less critical compared to core subjects, I find it essential for developing well-rounded, empathetic individuals.
What is the one thing you repeatedly do and recommend everyone else do?
I consistently seek feedback. Whether from peers, mentors, or students, gaining perspectives other than your own is invaluable. It drives improvement and innovation.
When you feel overwhelmed or unfocused, what do you do?
When I’m overwhelmed, I step back and take a break, often going for a walk outside. Disconnecting briefly helps me to refocus and approach tasks with a clearer mind.
What is one strategy that has helped you grow your business or advance in your career?
Building strong relationships within the education community has been crucial. Networking with other educators and participating in professional development workshops has opened doors to new ideas and career opportunities.
What is one failure in your career, how did you overcome it, and what lessons did you take away from it?
A notable challenge was adapting to online teaching during the pandemic. Initially, it was difficult to engage the students as effectively as in person. Over time, I learned to leverage various online tools to enhance interaction and learning, which significantly improved the experience for my students and me.
What is one business idea you’re willing to give away to our readers?
A virtual exchange program for special education classrooms worldwide, fostering cross-cultural communication and learning, can be revolutionary. This program would pair classrooms from different countries to share experiences and learn from each other.
What is one piece of software that helps you be productive? How do you use it?
Google Classroom has been a game changer. It helps me organize assignments, provide feedback, and communicate with students and their parents efficiently, keeping everyone in the loop and engaged.
Do you have a favorite book or podcast you’ve gotten a ton of value from and why?
“The Out-of-Sync Child” by Carol Stock Kranowitz has been invaluable. It provides great insights into sensory processing issues, which has enhanced how I support my students with similar challenges.
What’s a movie or series you recently enjoyed and why?
I recently enjoyed the series “The Crown” on Netflix. It’s fascinating to see a dramatized history of the British royal family, providing insights into cultural and political changes over the decades, which I bring into discussions in my classroom.
Key learnings
- Integrative Learning
- Adaptive Strategies
- Professional Growth