Reading Randy Thompson's vitae will give you a glimpse at the extraordinary educator we know as Gator:

Randy is a graduate of the University of Florida and has worked at both middle and high school levels in Florida and Michigan. As a high school teacher Randy was recognized as "Teacher of the Year". He has also been a coach, assistant principal, curriculum coordinator, and principal, and is currently president of M?kitso Educational Consulting.

• Randy has received training in Leadership and Planning in Middle and High Schools; NASSP Mentoring and Coaching; Interaction Management; Prime Middle School Training for Interdisciplinary Teaming, Flexible Block Scheduling, and Advisement/Advocacy Programs; Building Extraordinary Customer Relations; Targeted Selection Interviewer Training; TESA; and Disney Management Training. Randy is also a trainer for High Ropes and Initiative Challenge Courses.
• As the principal, Randy took both Desoto Middle School and Cadillac Middle School through the restructuring process from traditional junior highs to middle schools. Both schools have received exemplary recognition.
• Randy wrote and implemented a program called COMPASS: "Community Partnerships Assuring Student Success". COMPASS is a unique program that builds strong business partnerships around a schools? curriculum to develop meaningful lessons and impact student performance. Randy also wrote and implemented a dropout prevention program that received state recognition.
• As an author Randy has co-authored three best-selling books. FIRE UP FOR LEARNING! is a book of motivational activities for teachers to help them differentiate instruction while firing up their students. WOW, WHAT A TEAM! is a book of practical strategies for middle school teams or high school academies. The book is an interactive manual for teaming with activities from curriculum development to student management for teachers on teams to do to improve collaboration and impact student performance. MIDDLE SCHOOL MATTERS is a book about the matters of middle school. Randy and four other authors created classroom activities and lessons based on songs written by Monte Selby. The music Cd is packaged with the book.
• Randy has become a much sought after keynote speaker and presenter at state and national conferences. In addition to presenting and keynoting at conferences, Randy has also provided a variety of consultant training services for schools and districts in over 40 states (and counting) and several foreign countries. Randy is well known for his sense of humor and very practical strategies for school improvement. Not only will he help you meet the No Child Left Behind requirements, he will make it fun as well.

However, the honors and recognitions fail to present a full picture of the educator was born in a migrant labor camp in Florida and until the ninth grade aspired only to become a labor crew chief.

Read this interview with Gator and be sure to check out his upcoming Personal Trainer's Manual for Teams and Academies, Get Fit!

What do you like best about teaching?
Randy: It's all about the faces. Whether you are working with kids or adults, it's the expression on their faces during an "ah-huh moment!"

What advice would you give to new teachers?
Randy: Keep your enthusiasm. Don't let anyone steal it from you. And please ignore the admonition to stay out of the teacher's lounge. Get in there and help to eliminate the negativity by sharing the great things you are doing.

What is the hardest thing about teaching?
Randy: The hardest thing is also the most thrilling. It's breaking through to the hard-to-reach kid to adult. When you see the potential in any learner, but that learner doesn't seem to be making it, have the patience to let it develop. You will see the struggle on the learner's face. It can be gut wrenching, but it's worth the wait.

What would you like to tell administrators?
Randy: Don't take it personally! The criticism you get is directly mainly at the chair, not the person. It's important to smile. I begin everyday with an enthusiastic rendition of "Zippity Do Dah" you can't sing that song without smiling.

Who was your favorite teacher?
Randy: While more than a dozen educators impacted my life, my ninth grade math teacher saved my life. I was born in a migrant labor camp in Florida and as a "camp kid" was placed in special needs classes. In ninth grade I was mistakenly placed in an accelerated math class with Mr. R. D. Tripp. Mr. Tripp saw my potential and stood up for me when the principal came to take me back to my special needs class. He told me that I could go to college and major in math-that I could be a teacher. It's the first time I ever imagined myself more than a crew chief for the migrant laborers. He was at my graduation from the University of Florida and the Best Man in my wedding.

What advice would you give to students?
Randy: It's all about attitude. You can't change the people around you. You can only change yourself. Make those important changes in your own attitude and the people around you may change. If they don't, you have and that's the important thing.