Belief Statements | schoolboard

What I Believe About Education

Belief #1

I believe that all children are entitled to an appropriate public education, including the right to a year’s academic growth in school. Not just my children, or my students, but all children.

Belief #2

I believe that all children can learn, and that all children have talents that can be developed. I recognize that children don’t all learn the same way, or at the same rate. It is apparent to any novice teacher that children come with their own package of abilities, and disabilities that influence learning. The challenge is to meet students where they are, and move them to a higher level.

Belief #5

I believe that schools are not the only educational institution in the community. I recognize that there are other kinds of learning taking place each day. Children are not empty slates waiting for someone to write on.

Belief #6

I believe that teachers, students, and parents are partners in the educational process. It is important for teachers to be able to communicate with parents, especially when there are underachieving children, or intentional academic non-learners in the class. When students need to talk, teachers need to listen.

Belief #3

I believe that learning should be interesting, active, and relevant. Each unit should be written so that at some point each student will be engaged where they have strengths. Teaching units should employ a variety of literacy strategies that enable all students to work hard, learn, and have some fun too.

Belief #7

I believe that I need to do better, and be better each year. Technology and information are advancing so rapidly that if I stop growing and learning I will be the one who is left behind. It takes humility to admit that I can, and must, work consistently just to keep up.

Belief #4

I believe that all children deserve respect. I learned in my second year of teaching, from a master teacher named Vanessa Nelson, that all students want to be treated with respect, even if you don’t think they “deserve” it. All kids need the benefit of a doubt.