I believe . . .

I believe that education is an ongoing process. We are all learners, some more experienced than others. As a teacher, it is my responsibility to foster the total growth of each individual student with his/her own unique needs: socially, emotionally, intellectually, physically and spiritually. Students should experience solving real-world problems from a Christ-centered world-view and prepare to communicate with world-wide audiences. Learning should occur within meaningful and authentic experiences. Education should prepare students for a global world, emphasizing opportunities to grow in creativity, communication, collaboration and critical thinking.

I believe that education is not something “done” to the student but rather something that students do. Students must be active learners within a community environment which is founded on belief in God, mutual respect, trust, collaboration and shared responsibility. Learning should occur in concert with others and encourage all members of the community to look for and fulfill God’s purpose for their lives. I believe that students should be empowered through their educational experiences using the tools that are current and most appropriate for the learner. Students should experience rigor through regular writing experiences that require a deeper level of thinking, regular reading experiences that allow them to connect to the material, asking questions in the pursuit of knowledge and skills, and following investigations in the pursuit of understanding.

I believe that teachers are the more mature learner in the learning community and as such should guide students. Teachers are motivators, communicators, adaptors, visionaries, leaders, collaborators and risk takers. Most of all, teachers are connected learners.