Stacey Cooney

Bio

Stacey Cooney currently works in the registrar's office of Amherst College in Amherst, Mass., where she processes transcripts and other student documents and assists in the general activities of the office. Stacey is originally from Tewksbury, Mass., where she attended public school, graduating from Tewksbury Memorial High School in June 1996. She graduated from Smith College in May 2000 with a Bachelor of Arts degree majoring in history. She now lives in Amherst and considers herself a resident of the Pioneer Valley of Massachusetts. Her interests include reading, cooking, and gardening.

Educational philosophy

What is the purpose of education?

Education offers people tools and information that they can use in order to engage in and excel in modern society. Education, at its best, not only gives students a basic shared knowledge of the world but also instills in them a framework of thinking which includes not only fact recollection but also creative problem solving and flexible thought processes. Education sculpts the raw intelligence of students into a shared framework of ideas, words, and images to allow students and citizens to engage meaningfully in the world around them and to communicate effectively with their fellows.

What is the role of the student in education?

The role of the student is to keep an open mind and to trust that the knowledge they are absorbing will enhance their lives as a whole. The student should engage in the learning process by not only absorbing facts but also by engaging in experimentation and applied activities which allow the student to discover for themselves. Students should be mindful of their strengths and weaknesses and apply themselves accordingly. While retaining their individuality, students should engage others and build bonds that encourage sharing of strengths. Students should also develop interests outside of the classroom in order to provide a well-rounded education.

What is the role of the teacher in education?

The role of the teacher is to encourage students, to make the material engaging without diluting or distorting it, to help students who are in trouble either social or intellectually, and to challenge those who have a greater mastery of the concepts. Teachers should remain apace with both new teaching methods and also with important changes in their particular subject matter. Teachers should offer support to students to help them face challenges, engage meaningfully in the work, and excel.

What is the role of the teacher in the community?

Within the school community the teacher is a leader, an authority figure, a cheerleader, a parent by proxy, and a role model. Within the wider community a teacher is an important member of the community charged with helping to mold the next generation of its citizenry. A teacher should be engaged with parents and the community at large in a dialogue that stresses the importance of the learning process as a continual process and as an essential process.

What is the purpose of the school?

A school is the physical manifestation of the learning process. It provides a safe haven for the learning process - a gathering place for teachers and students, mentors and novices. It allows the intermingling of students with different backgrounds and belief systems, allowing them to develop social skills and learn from one another. A school encourages both isolated, engaged learning and also exposes students to the wider world and to new experiences. It should also provide places for quiet study, for athletic activities, and for student organizations.

Why are you involved in JZEF?

I am involved in this process because I believe that children are not curently being given the tools that they need to interact effectively in this society. I want to be a part of a group that leads by example. I want to put action to words and to carve out a bit of space for students to learn to engage in intellectual pursuits that will last them a lifetime. I want to give them the gift of learning, which is one of the most precious gifts that can be bestowed.