A teacher who teaches in a Botoşănean hamlet managed to win the teacher’s teacher’s prize, in the debuting category. Ioana Cristina Pascau is 30 years old and refused a position in the city just to teach children from the country.
Teacher Ioana Cristina Pascau PHOTO Cosmin Zamfirache
In February, at the Opera in Brasov, the Gala “Professor of the Year in the Rural Train” took place, organized by the Teach for Romania. This event brings together, after a very rigorous selection, the best education professionals who work in the rural area. This year, in the category of beginners, the big prize, by “teacher of the year”, obtained Ioana Cristina Pascau, teacher at the “Petru Zamfirescu” Gymnasium in Prisăcani, Botoșani county.
“For me it was totally unexpected. The people around me nominated me and I woke up in the first three and that I had to go to Brasov. At the gala. I did not think for a moment that I would win such a prize. I obviously, I was glad that the activities we carry out in school are appreciated.”confesses for “Weekend Adevărul” the winner. Beyond the modesty of the teacher from Botosani, there is an incredible story about giving, passion for the job and a true educational performance made in a forgotten hamlet, from the outskirts of Romania.
The place where the passion for education has found its house
On the way to Prisăcani you can wander quite easily. In this forgotten place, in the middle of a field, burned by the sun in summer and rooted by the blizzard, in winter, it is reached on the road Botosani-Iasi. In the city of Flamânzi, at the roundabout in the center of the town, there is still four kilometers. It is necessary to pay attention to contribute to the only road leading to Prisăcani, slightly larger than a village. There is still about two kilometers on a hellish road, left full of pits, destroyed, as if in a beating. The entrance to Prisăcani is signaled by a board. But to be sure that we are going in the right direction, we ask the peasants busy with agricultural work.
This hamlet has only one school. Well that it also resists. For now, it has enough classes, enough students. Above the school road are the Tăpșan on which 118 years ago, the rebel peasants met to start asking for the sausage. The followers of the rebels still learn in the village school. They teach Ioana Cristina Pascau, a 30-year-old who has always wanted to work with students. Is not local. The place is from Bârlad, but he married and moved to Chițoveni, a village away only a few kilometers from Prisăcani. Her husband is a priest and there he received parish. Cristina had the chance to get a job in the city, but not wanted to.
Cristina Pașcău PHOTO Facebook
“I wanted here. And here you need prepared people who work with passion.says the teacher from Prisăcani.
Initially, Cristina Pășcău did not have specialized studies. He had only the diploma obtained at the Pedagogical High School, so he worked as an educator. After that, he followed the higher studies and obtained his accreditation for primary education. “I started as a teacher in pre-school education, as an unskilled educator. Then I finished my studies in the field,” says the teacher.
The pedagogue who takes out the best of his students
Cristina Pascau teaches about 20 students. All are children in the village or the neighboring hamlets. Children are really clean, receptive and listeners. Maybe one of the reasons is that they feel good at school. They are listened to, learned to be confident and highly motivated. This is one of the secrets of Cristina Pășcău: she removes all the best from the students, convinced that everyone has something to offer.
“These children in the rural area need a lot of confidence in them, a lot of involvement. Each student must be involved in activities. Not just a part. Each student must be helped to understand, participate, trust his powers. This is our purpose. We need to tell them that we are with them, whatever they are, and we always strive to highlight their qualities, skills. Must see that those qualities exist to develop them ”confesses Cristina Pascau.
In fact, this impact it has on the trust and development of students’ skills, it seems, was one of the reasons why the teacher from Prisăcani was noticed. “I understood that I received this prize due to the impact on the students, the activities I carry out at school, our involvement, the methods we apply both in the class and in the activities outside the hours and for the work done”adds the teacher.
From classic pedagogy to digital education
The school in Prisăcani, although in a difficult place to find even with the GPS, can boast with decent facilities. Cristina Pascau made a cozy educational space in the classroom made available. In addition to the classic sheet, the furniture is new and modern, and the walls covered with beautiful teaching drawings, drawings and materials. The video projector is not missing, nor the All in One system or the projection panels.
Cristina Pașcău in the Cosmin Zamfirache photo class
Precisely to attract students and always keep connected to school, Cristina Pascau confesses that she uses a classic method with some very modern ones. For example, when writing in the special notebooks takes the children tired, the projection board is drawn and the play begins.
“We combine traditional methods with modern ones: the book, book and writing tools with modern, participatory methods. Everything to capture their attention, to be eager and curious to learn as much. But also to make more useful and easier, for the new generations, the lesson I will teach.”adds Cristina Pascau.
The most precious lesson, the most beautiful gift
For all the efforts in the classroom, the teacher always makes them an important gift: a trip. It also has the purpose of relaxation, but also didactic purpose. “I often motivate them by telling them that we will go on the trip. On the days when time allows, such as school, green week, we do all kinds of activities, such as workshops, hiking, but also trips. It is important to them. It is an opening to the world, to knowledge. Learn new things through observation.”says Cristina Pascau.
So far, the students from Prisăcani have been taken to the neighboring counties and have seen very interesting places. “I believe that all the trips are unforgettable for them. We visited together the city of Suceava, the city of Iași, Neamț County, on Humulești, the Fortress of Neamț, but also other tourist objectives. They were very pleased, very happy, and he still asks when we go on the next trip.”the teacher tells.
