PARENT LETTER
Dear Parents and/or Guardians,
My name is Anthony Salciccioli and I am your child’s teacher for philosophy this semester. I am writing to tell you about my personal and professional background, my mission as an educator and what your child will be learning about in class. I also invite and welcome you to get a hold of me any time. These can be inquires, comments, criticisms, compliments, suggestions or anything that you feel can better the experience for your student. My email address is anthony.salciccioli@clarencevilleschools.org and I will get back to you within 24 hours if you email me. If you prefer, you may call the school at 248.919.0408.
I began teaching in Clarenceville Schools in 2001. In addition to teaching, I was the President of the Michigan Council for the Social Studies from 2012-2014. I graduated from Michigan State University in 1996, obtained a second undergraduate degree from the University of Michigan-Dearborn in 2001 and received my Masters Degree from Marygrove College in 2006. I've received four teaching awards, most notably the 2016 Gilder Lehrman Michigan Teacher of the Year. I am married with three wonderful children and have lived in Metro Detroit my entire life.
It is my sincerest hope that all of my students will derive life-long learning in a safe, secure environment. I teach in order to make young people better critical thinkers and enjoy learning. I feel it is my job to instruct students how to think, not what to think. There is no greater tragedy, in my mind, than wasted potential. Therefore, I will make it my personal mission to do my utmost to have your student reach his or her greatest potential. It is also part of my mission to work collaboratively with you and make you feel satisfied in my performance.
Philosophy is my passion. It has always been my hope to be able to teach it to students. I first attempted to have this class implemented back in 2005 and it was first offered in 2011. This course’s intent is to simulate the liberal arts requirement that all college students must take and to broaden the thinking of your student. Philosophy in its literal translation is, “love of wisdom”. I hope your student exits this course with the love and respect for the minds that have come before us. I also hope that they are inspired enough to be the torch bearers of this great intellectual tradition of philosophy in their adult lives.
“In philosophy an individual is becoming himself”- Bernard Lonergan
Sincerely,
Anthony Salciccioli, Clarenceville High School