Summary: Dede Faltot Rittman graduated from Edinboro University in 1974 with a bachelor’s degree in secondary English and attended the University of Pittsburgh for post-graduate credits. After two years at Penn Hills, she began teaching English and Theater in the North Allegheny School District, a position she held for thirty-five years. For thirty-two of those years, Dede worked with underachieving students and those with special needs.<br> <br> Known as “the Bunny Teacher,” Dede affectionately called her students her “bunnies,” and one year for her birthday, two of her English classes bought her a real rabbit, Binky Rittman. Dede used bunny stamps and stickers for rewards and incentives, and when students were at home sick and requested homework, Dede wrote each one a personal note, adding a bunny stamp and a lollipop!<br> <br> An avid golfer, Dede coached both Varsity Girls and Varsity Boys Golf at North Allegheny.<br> <br> Dede always thought she would teach for forty years, but when her husband and best friend, Scott, was diagnosed with stage-four colon cancer in December 2009, she retired to care for him in the final stages of his illness. Scott died in 2012.<br> <br> After retiring, Dede began her own company, Rittman Publishing, LLC, which places an emphasis on teaching the three C’s: Confidence, Communication, and Creativity, whether working with student teachers, special needs students in theater, or those who need one-on-one tutoring. She authored 'Student Teaching- The Inside Scoop from a Master Teacher' and 'Grady Gets Glasses,' her first children's book.<br> Quotables<br> <br> The best thing that ever happened was inclusion.<br> Teachers set the example.<br> Empathy can be taught.<br> Devotion is really important.<br> Sometimes we don't want to face what's going on in our lives and we blame it on our jobs.<br> The more I gave of myself, the more rewards I received.<br> Teacher leaders, your attitude will set the tone for the school climate.<br> No one was ever late to my class because they felt safe and loved.<br> <br> Connect with Dede<br> <br> Website- dederittman.com <br> Blog- http://bunnyteacher.blogspot.com<br> Email - dederittman@gmail.com<br> <br> Publications<br> <br> Book for Teachers- https://www.wordassociation.com/selfhelp%20book%20page/studentteaching.html<br> Book for Children- gradygetsglasses.com<br> <br> Social Media<br> <br> Facebook: www.facebook.com/rittmanrules<br> Twitter: @dederittman<br> Linkedin: Dede Faltot Rittman<br> Instagram: dede_rittman<br> Google+: Dede Rittman<br> Tumblr: The Bunny Teacher<br> <br> Dede's Stamp of Approval<br> <br> Field Trip Zoom<br> Forest of the Rain Productions<br> <br> Connect with Gretchen<br> <br> Email: gretchen@alwaysalesson.com<br> Blog: Always A Lesson<br> Facebook: Always A Lesson<br> Twitter: @gschultek<br> Instagram: Always.A.Lesson<br> Linkedin: Gretchen Schultek Bridgers<br> Google+: Gretchen Schultek Bridgers<br> Book: Elementary EDUC 101: What They Didn't Teach You in College<br> <br> Leave a Rating and Review:<br> https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/always-lessons-empowering/id1006433135?mt=2<br> Why?<br> This helps my show remain active in order to continue to help other educators remain empowered in a career that has a long lasting effect on our future.<br> How?<br> Search for my show in iTunes or Stitcher.<br> Click on ‘Ratings and Reviews.’<br> Under ‘Customer Reviews,’ click on “Write a Review.”<br> Sign in with your iTunes or Stitcher log-in info<br> Leave a Rating: Tap the greyed out stars (5 being the best)<br> Leave a Review: Type in a Title and Description of your thoughts on my podcast<br> Click ‘Send’
