Rebecca Johns-Wommack, Ed.D.

Rebecca received a Bachelor’s degree from Middle Tennessee State University in Mass Communications. She received her second Bachelor’s degree from the University of Northern Colorado, where she majored in Kinesiology with an emphasis in physical education. She completed her Master’s degree in Health and her Education Specialist degree with a concentration in Curriculum and Instruction from Middle Tennessee State University. Rebecca earned her Doctorate of Education degree from Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale, Florida with a concentration in Child and Youth Studies.

Dr. Rebecca Johns-Wommack has expertise in Action Based Learning, Child and Adult learning, Physical Education, Health Education, Personal Wellness, and Coordinated School Health. She has co-authored two books titled Concepts in Fitness: A Balanced Approach to Good Health, and Discovering Optimal Wellness to Change Your Life.

Personal Teaching Philosophy 

While I was an Executive Director in the Tennessee Department of Education, I worked with training teachers from every school district in our state. I firmly believe that all students can learn. Students must be in a holistic environment for learning to occur. It is the responsibility of the teacher to create this environment. A holistic environment is a safe environment where the teacher is a “facilitator of education” who teaches to the whole child as a unique person, not just a warm body sitting in a chair.

The classroom environment must be one where it is not a top down approach. When students feel like they matter, they have a right to be heard and are respected, the classroom environment then has the base for an atmosphere conducive to learning.  In return, students “learn how to learn” and respect themselves and others. When they feel free to let their guard down, then self efficacy to learning and assisting classmates in their learning can and will occur. The environment must be one where students are educated with lesson plans and teaching materials developed around the emotional intelligence of the student, not just the intelligent quotient.

The teacher is a facilitator of education. A facilitator guides the students through modeling and the self –discovery process by creating relevant situations to connect the concepts presented. By connecting information presented to real life scenarios and by using critical thinking skills, the students begin to take ownership of what they are learning. This also includes allowing adequate time and space to use materials and cooperative learning for individual discovery and knowledge to occur.

Finally, the facilitator of learning also becomes the student. In my experience, teaching gives me the opportunity for constant learning and growth.  To succeed, students need a facilitator of education to relate to their learning styles, emotional intelligence, and provide real-life application learning environments to assist them to succeed as reflective learners. This environment can be a challenge for the teacher to create. However, the challenge is well worth the outcome.  By having a classroom with a holistic environment for teaching, I am able to teach lifelong learning skills. This is what I believe is true teaching.

Rebecca Johns-Wommack, Ed.D.