Teaching Philosophy
-
I believe that every student has inherent value and potential for success.
-
I believe the purpose of education is to learn how to be a life long learner.
-
I believe students learn best when they are provided with clear goals to strive toward.
-
I believe a positive learning environment is one where students feel safe to make mistakes and learn from them.
-
I believe that every student deserves access to basic needs, including food security.
-
I believe all teachers should embody qualities of openness and flexibility.
-
I believe students learn best when they receive support from their families at home.
-
I believe empathy plays a vital role in creating a positive classroom atmosphere.
-
I believe students need to be taught effective study strategies to fully grasp concepts.
-
I believe teachers need active parent support to maximize the impact of their students' education.
My Story
As an educator, my goal is to pay it forward by helping my students reach their full potential, just as my teachers did for me.
Growing up in a household where higher education was not attainable, my family always had higher expectations for myself and my education. My parents worked hard to give me and my brother the best opportunities they could, which meant that my success was their greatest hope. However, with that expectation came the pressure to thrive in school without much guidance, and I faced many challenges along the way.
When my teachers noticed I was struggling with reading comprehension, my parents, due to social stigmas, did not seek additional support, leaving me to navigate the educational system on my own. Over time, I realized that I had to be my own advocate. I stayed late after school, seeking extra help from teachers while my parents worked hard to provide for our family. Eventually, a teacher in elementary school recognized my struggles, including my dyslexia, and understood the complexities that were preventing me from getting the help I needed. Thanks to this teacher's support, I went from struggling in first grade to consistently earning honor roll by fourth grade. All it took was a teacher who saw my potential and provided the support I needed.
By fifth grade, I was a straight-A student and had received the Presidential Award. This experience showed me the immense impact one teacher can have. I want to replicate that kind of nurturing environment for my students—an environment where every child has the opportunity to succeed, no matter the challenges they may face. My teacher’s ability to meet me where I was and provide tailored learning strategies made all the difference in my life, and I want to bring that same level of support to my future students.
Pursuing a Master of Education to earn my teaching license is my way of giving back to students who, like me, might not yet believe in their potential. Growing up, I always dreamed of being a teacher, but others often discouraged me. My parents believed that a career in medicine would be more practical, and as I got older, people warned me about the dangers of teaching in today’s schools. Despite these doubts, I’ve never been able to shake the desire to be an educator, especially for those children who, like me, were labeled in ways that didn’t fully capture their potential. It is this drive to help others that fuels my determination to become the educator I always needed; and thankfully was able to experience.