To an ordinary person, a school football field is just a large grassy area, but to an educator like Andrew Wallace, it's a teaching aid. For a recent geography lesson, he chalked the football field into a huge grid with latitudes and longitudes. Students moved around this grid, using coordinates to find their way. In another lesson, his class worked cooperatively in groups to create their own countries, determining their nations' topography, culture and even politics. With this kind of discovery-based learning, Mr. Wallace guides his students toward a deeper understanding of history. A master of differentiated instruction, Mr. Wallace keeps even the most advanced students motivated while fully supporting struggling learners. With high expectations, he challenges students to work to their fullest potential. His commitment to education extends even beyond the classroom, having co-authored a guidebook for parents. Former students visit him so often that if he needs to finish up some work at the end of the school day, he has to lock his door and turn off the lights.
