About Teachers

teacher | noun | teaCH·ER

; have the ability to shape and transform student lives, actively learning, intentionally planning, caring for students inside and outside the classroom, human, growing

synonyms: catalyst

"Be diligent in believing that what we do in the classroom could possibly echo for a lifetime in the heart of a student."

-Robert John Meehan

I aim to be an educator that transforms the way that students experience and learn in school. My role as an educator is not simply to teach, but to engage, collaborate and inspire students to their potentials. I aim as an educator to change and transform the instilled and drilled in ways that teaching has happened over time. I aim to shift the balance of roles in the classroom-to not being so teacher-centered, but student-centered. My role as an educator is simply not to stand up in front of a classroom and pass out worksheets mass-produced from a textbook. My role is not to simply pass a worksheet out to students and then go check my email. My role and identity as an educator are so much more than that. The role of the teacher is hands-on and engaged with the students. My role as an educator and the actions I take towards it all stems from my core beliefs about students, teachers, and education as a whole. I aim for my teaching to reflect my beliefs. I believe that the time that we have with students is far too important to not put those beliefs into action. They need to know that their voices and ideas matter. What message are we sending to our students?

I believe that teachers have the ability to shape, influence and transform student lives. Our role as an educator is so much more than giving out worksheets. I believe that not only should teachers focus on students learning academic content, but also learning to become a good person and help others and the world. Our role as an educator should be to enrich and enlighten our students lives-to inspire them to create, to dream and to act. I never want a students age, or gender, or color of the skin to come in between that. Teachers have the ability to empower students to see their potential and the impacts that they can make. We can inspire them to think about people in history who have done things in the past to advance and help people. We can inspire that change. I want my students to know that even at a young age, they can make a difference. I want to empower students and their natural abilities to so that they can as well be world-changers. Why can't they go down in history? The students that we teach may very well go on to be world-changers in different ways; it is with the spark of a teacher to those students that may ignite that. I strongly believe that it is up to us, our interactions and our instruction to show students how capable they are.

"I fully respect my platform to impact social change."

-Chance the Rapper. 2018

I believe that teachers should document their students' learnings, ideas, and discoveries. It is important to document what students are engaged in not only for the educator, but students and families as well. It allows for them to see a glimpse into the wonderful work that is done in the classroom. Not only is important learning done with the content that is taught in different subjects, but learning to become a good person and helping others and the world is just as important. It is important to document what students are engaged in not only for the educator but for students and their families as well. It allows for them to see a glimpse into the wonderful work that is done in the classroom and for transparency.

I believe teachers should work to show students that they care for them not only in the classroom but also their lives outside of it. Just like all of us, we have interests and things that happen outside of school. Our students are the same. Similarly, we do not know what type of situations students might face outside of school, and a teacher showing their care and support might just change that students life. I believe that there’s no better smile to receive than one when a student realizes that they are cared for and that you are there cheering them on- whether that be inside the classroom, or if possible outside the classroom as well. It shows them how much you value them inside and outside of the classroom.

I believe that teachers are students as well. Teachers are constantly learning from their students and also developing and growing. I believe that by sitting down and listening to students voices and ideas, that we learn more about children, their capabilities, and their thoughts. It is important for our students sake that we are finding new ways to develop and learn. We need to be active in our learning. I also believe and know that teachers are humans too-we are growing, and we are learning.