“Kids don’t remember what you try to teach them. They remember what you are.”
– Jim Henson
As an educator, I work hard every day to engage my own thinking and teaching practices beyond any limits I could possibly set for myself. Education and all aspects in which make up the process of teaching young minds is forever changing. The concept of how students should be taught is never set in stone, but the beliefs and constructs that educators have and how they treat their students should always be focused on the physical, social, mental, and emotional well-being of all involved.
I believe that each student who walks into my classroom is special and should be valued equally no matter their societal status, race, gender identity, abilities, and so on. I aspire to be the teacher who all students in the school can feel comfortable to approach with any concerns or challenges they are facing. I believe in ensuring the success of all students by differentiating my teaching styles, engaging in interactive learning, and providing my students with the skills and resources they need to prosper. My job as an educator goes beyond teaching from a book or teaching curricular outcomes. The roles I take on everyday include, but are not limited to: an ally, a support, a friend, an advocate, a colleague, a role model, an employee, and a mentor. It is my responsibility to care for all students and to respect my students caregivers, the staff, administrators and community members.
“We never know which lives we influence, or when, or why.”
– Stephen King