“I am large, I contain multitudes.” – Walt Whitman

I believe every child is unique and singular, and they all have a right to an equitable education that enables them to grow intellectually, socially, and emotionally. Every child has the potential to achieve success when fully equipped, and only an equitable education will equip all students. As an educator, I will provide students with a safe and comfortable environment that allows for students’ curiosity to lead them in their learning through risk-taking and collaboration with peers. My goal is for students to use the knowledge they acquire to better understand the world around them and their place within it, always emphasizing respect, empathy, and continual learning.

“We do not live single-issue lives.” – Audre Lorde

           As an educator, my role is, first and foremost, to be a champion for all students. I will do this by bringing diverse and intersectional material to the curriculum. There is so much that students are individually passionate about, and they are very detailed and critical about the things they love. My job is to bring that same level of attention to detail and curiosity to dig beyond the surface level to each new educational endeavor, regardless of prior interest. I will accomplish this by meeting students where they are, as they are. I want students to feel comfortable bringing and sharing their lived experiences in the classroom so that they can learn from each other and so that I can use that information to tailor every curriculum-driven lesson to their specific desires. By inciting their passion, I will bolster their pride so that students see themselves as capable learners and achievers regardless of the intellectually demanding work.

“Discover and release individualized capacities so that [students] might make their own way” – John Dewey

           I will foster an equitable, compassionate, and safe classroom that will allow my students and myself, as the teacher, to learn and grow from each other. The classroom will be a community in which every student will be included and respected. This will allow students to be responsible and active in their own learning. I will use positive reinforcement and de-escalation techniques combined with good humor to resolve any problems that might arise. Students will know that I am always on their side and that they always have a place in the classroom community despite any past behavioral or academic issues. As future citizens in an increasingly global world, students will learn how to advocate for themselves and their community in my classroom while staying aware of their place in an interconnected society.

“[Schools as] centers for the continual learning of everyone connected to them” – Deborah Meier

           Teaching and learning go hand-in-hand, just as reading and writing do. I am always looking for different ways to become a better teacher, and I am always looking for new venues to continue acquiring knowledge. I hope to instill this same love for learning in my students since it will help them succeed in an ever more nebulous job market. I also look forward to learning and growing from my colleagues, the education community, and especially the students.