“The teacher’s task is not to implant facts, but to place the subject to be learned in front of the learner and, through sympathy, emotion, imagination and patience, to awaken in the learner the restless drive for answers and insights which enlarge the personal life and give it meaning.”  - Nathan M. Pusey

     Teachers touch the lives of their students in countless ways and provide essential tools for life beyond the classroom.  Each teacher holds a philosophy of education, in which his or her actions are rooted and instruction is based. 

     I believe a classroom should be characterized as having high levels of participation and engagement.  Students are actively engaged in relevant experiences within an integrated curriculum.  The teacher is the facilitator as students participate in hands-on learning and exploration.  Cooperative learning experiences are abundant and help to promote greater tolerance for differences and teach important social skills.

     All children can learn.  I believe that excellent educators celebrate diversity and develop an appreciation for differences among their students.  They utilize differentiated instruction techniques that focus on multiple forms of intelligence.  Assessment is ongoing and diagnostic to help an educator understand how to make instruction more responsive to the needs of learners.  Authentic assessments are administered to more closely capture the richness of what students understand.

     A child’s education does not end outside the walls of the classroom.  Effective educators value parents as the first teachers of children and establish parent-teacher partnerships to ensure the learner’s educational success.  They promote parent involvement and ongoing communication through newsletters and conferences.  A successful educator also establishes good working relationships with colleagues to provide the most appropriate educational experiences for students.

     I consider a good classroom manager as proactive not reactive and as having high expectations for all students.  Good classroom discipline is positive, fair, and consistent.  Rewards and consequences are clearly stated and supported by students, administrators, and parents.

     Excellence in education involves child-centered lessons, celebration of diversity, and the collaboration between children, parents, colleagues, and community.  It is the connections that are made between subjects and the personal lives of children.  All of which are necessary to enhance the education of our future leaders.