To teach well, you have to believe.

I believe we cannot teach a student all that they will need to know for life in the twelve years we have them.
We cannot say where their path will lead or what specific knowledge they will need. Our job as teachers is
to prepare students to continue learning...to give them a foundation, to teach them how to learn and to
encourage a love of learning.
I believe every student is uniquely created. It is important to be in tune with each individual child and to
build on their strengths while strengthening their weaknesses. Learning is most successful when a student
is challenged beyond their current abilities, but not so far that they become discouraged and unable to learn.
I believe that though we are all created uniquely, we are all essential to the collective community. It is
important to build community within our classrooms and campus, and to teach students to work together
effectively.
I believe that ideally the primary responsibility for educating children lies with parents, but that we share a
collective responsibility to make sure every child has access to a quality education. That means that we
have to be attuned to every student's needs and meet them where we can best serve their family. As
teachers, we have the added responsibility of providing support and guidance for parents in areas where we
have been gifted.
I believe teachers are part of a village of educators. Other teachers, faculty, and parents are all part of that
village, so it is important to be in continual conversation and working together to provide the best possible
education for each child.
I believe a list of certificates does not make a good teacher. A good teacher is one who can combine their
head knowledge with their heart, guiding students to be their best.
I believe in learning by doing. A student will learn most effectively if they are tasked with not only
knowing, but presenting the material themselves and/or physically participating in the lesson.
I believe that the natural world is our best classroom. We have an intricate environment around us, and
every subject, from chemistry to literature, can be enhanced with outdoor learning.
I believe cultural awareness is imperative for students to be effective members of society. It is important to
understand our own culture, to appreciate other cultures, and to understand our place from a local and
global standpoint.
Combined, these beliefs give me great passion to work with students and families in facilitating educational
growth. I want my students to walk away from my classroom feeling encouraged, empowered, and excited
to continue learning.
My philosophy of how to achieve that falls in line with the Expeditionary Learning principles outlined by
Outward Bound, and based off of influential experiential educators such as Kurt Hahn. Students are
engaged by learning activities that are challenging, but which give them the opportunity to find success.
Group collaboration and learning to respect diverse ideas is essential and will provide a foundation for
lifelong progression. The student's greatest need is to be given the tools that they can use to create their
own learning experiences and reflect on their growth.
I am thankful for all my teachers, in and out of the formal classroom, who believed enough to positively
impact my future. I teach because I believe.