December 16, 2004
Section: The Guide
Edition: Palo Alto
Page: 9
Memo:TEACHER OF THE WEEK
TODD LAPLANTE
KEYS SCHOOL, PALO ALTO
KRISTINA NICHOLAS, MERCURY NEWS
Age: 40
Years of service: 14
Teaches: Eighth-grade U.S. history and seventh-grade world culture
Background: Born and grew up in Holyoke, Mass. LaPlante graduated from Holyoke High School in 1981 and received a bachelor's degree in English from Boston University in 1986. He earned a degree from Western New England College School of Law in 1989 and practiced law for 2 1/2 years before becoming an educator. He moved to the Bay Area in 1992 to teach at Keys School, which had just expanded to a K-8 school. Hired to be the eighth-grade ''guy'' mentor. He has taught history, pre-algebra, physical education and was athletic director his first year. ''It has been a wonderful experience to develop my curriculum and work with the best group of middle school teachers on the Peninsula,'' LaPlante said. ''The core teachers in the Keys Middle School have been together so long that we adapt to and complement each other's teaching styles; we are able to adjust our curriculum to meet the needs of our students.''
Extracurricular activities: Coaching Palo Alto Babe Ruth baseball
Who influenced your desire to be a teacher: ''My mother taught kindergarten in the Holyoke public schools for 35 years and inspired me with her sense of humor, creativity and ability to inspire kids. I would be amazed when her former students would tear up while fondly recalling their formative years in her class. I wanted to be able to have that impact on people's lives.''
Biggest challenge: ''Keeping my curriculum relevant and fresh, incorporating new techniques and differentiating my instruction and assessments.''
Favorite thing about teaching: ''The kids! What else is there? They keep me eternally young.''
Secret to getting kids to listen: ''Being human and having a sense of humor and not being some pontificating windbag in front of the class.''
Favorite quote: From Lee Iococca: ''In a completely rational society, the best of us would aspire to be teachers and the rest of us would have to settle for something less, because passing civilization along from one generation to the next ought to be the highest honor and the highest responsibility anyone could have."
