I am the Assistant Principal and teacher at Muir Lake School in Parkland School Division. I love my job and view my responsibility as an educator as a great honor.
Every student is unique and all students can learn: this is the foundation of my educational philosophy. Each individual walks through the doors of the school each day with distinctive personality, interests, learning style, social background, and needs. Every student deserves high quality learning opportunities; therefore, attempting to box children into a uniform educational system will not suffice. I believe it is the responsibility of the administrative team and the teachers to acknowledge these differences as strengths and structure powerful learning accordingly.
The children are the future and have something valuable to offer to our world. I believe that every child can succeed and that success begins in the classroom. Providing a safe, secure, caring and stimulating environment in which students can grow intellectually, emotionally, socially, and physically is imperative to the successful development of students. Administration and teachers must care for and respect their students, taking the time to invest in each as an individual. Students will not learn effectively in the absence of this element.
Students should not be required to meet every curricular objective in the exact same way and on the exact same timetable. Lessons should be student centered, not teacher centered and structured on open ended, complex, higher level thinking tasks. I believe that teachers should employ every possible strategy and tool available to meeting the barrage of learning needs that enter the classroom every day. Every lesson should be differentiated; including a variety of learning strategies that match each individual student’s learning needs and engage the student. The teacher must be committed to the success of the students and have the expertise to measure their success.
Learning is a lifelong process. We live in a dynamic, fast paced world. Strategies that worked yesterday will not necessarily work tomorrow. Teachers need to model this truth; continually seeking professional development and ways to use new tools and technology in the classroom. Students need to be engaged in
the lesson and develop the skill of learning. Technology is a vital tool in this process and should be incorporated in new and creative ways. I believe a teacher’s commitment to learning and utilizing every available tool will instill a love for learning in students that will extend beyond the classroom providing every student with the skills to be a productive member of society.
I have had many administrators and teachers impact my life immensely throughout my education. A large part of who I am today is due to these incredible educators I have had in my life in the past and present. I hope and believe that I can have such impact on students’ lives.