Educator
Professional Statement
Teaching is an honorable profession, and a tremendously important role in society. Teachers are responsible for obtaining and recalling years of history, research and experience, which they then turn around and bestow to the new and growing generation of students who will inevitably control the future of our world. A teacher must be knowledgeable, not only in her given subject area, but in dealing with people. A teacher interacts with students, parents, co-workers, and many other people through the course of the school year and social skills are key to making valuable connections in the education world. I find that the teachers I look up to and gain the most from are those who are open, approachable, and accepting to all students, no matter how diverse. While there is a certain degree of caring involved with teaching, a teacher must be able to separate emotion from professionalism. As much as teachers would like to save the world, one student at a time, there are many situations we are not equipped to deal with and must be able to draw a line between school life and personal life. Most importantly, a teacher must know that it is acceptable to ask for help, and to openly seek it before a situation gets out of control. Often times, teachers try hard to prove their abilities; asking for help is not necessarily a sign of weakness, but rather a sign of trust within the faculty team.
All students are entitled to an education, and each student is unique, with no two being exactly the same. There are many ways to learn, absorb, and retain knowledge, and many strengths and weaknesses to be addressed. Culture plays a huge role in education. It is especially apparent today with the spread and celebration of diversity in America. For these reasons, teachers are given the demanding task of reaching each kind of learner and understanding how students receive and retain information. I strongly believe in Gardner’s Theory of Multiple Intelligences and teach by focusing on the individual’s strengths to help process new material. I also believe in the importance of diverse, cultural experiences within the education process. There are billions of people on earth; each and every culture has something positive to offer the world.
Education is the key to the future. Information has traditionally been passed down from one generation to the next, giving students the necessary tools to grow and flourish in life and to become valuable members of society. As a teacher, I have an obligation to share the information, skills, and passion I possess with my students, with the hope that I can broaden horizons and open unseen doors. I believe that all subjects, including the fine arts, are core subjects. These subjects should be taught in relation to each other, rather than as separate entities. Collaboration is critical as people work with each other in virtually all aspects of life. The same should be true within the educational community in order to better equip our students for the real world. I strive to collaborate with other teachers and combine different disciplines to provide my students with well rounded, diverse, and relevant learning experiences.
All students are entitled to an education, and each student is unique, with no two being exactly the same. There are many ways to learn, absorb, and retain knowledge, and many strengths and weaknesses to be addressed. Culture plays a huge role in education. It is especially apparent today with the spread and celebration of diversity in America. For these reasons, teachers are given the demanding task of reaching each kind of learner and understanding how students receive and retain information. I strongly believe in Gardner’s Theory of Multiple Intelligences and teach by focusing on the individual’s strengths to help process new material. I also believe in the importance of diverse, cultural experiences within the education process. There are billions of people on earth; each and every culture has something positive to offer the world.
Education is the key to the future. Information has traditionally been passed down from one generation to the next, giving students the necessary tools to grow and flourish in life and to become valuable members of society. As a teacher, I have an obligation to share the information, skills, and passion I possess with my students, with the hope that I can broaden horizons and open unseen doors. I believe that all subjects, including the fine arts, are core subjects. These subjects should be taught in relation to each other, rather than as separate entities. Collaboration is critical as people work with each other in virtually all aspects of life. The same should be true within the educational community in order to better equip our students for the real world. I strive to collaborate with other teachers and combine different disciplines to provide my students with well rounded, diverse, and relevant learning experiences.
“We sometimes lose sight of the fact that schools must be, first and foremost, centers for learning. They do not exist to provide employment, to serve as political units, to be entertainment centers, or to meet in any primary way the needs of persons other than the students who are enrolled in our schools. Thus, every activity of the school system must be justified by how it helps to ensure the optimum growth and development of students. Commitment to the growth and development of students must be central and pervasive and must take precedence over all other considerations. “ – Dr. Frederick Holliday, 1983