EDUCATIONAL PHILOSOPHY

EDUCATIONAL PHILOSOPHY/SCHOOL VISION

"Education is not preparation for life; education is life itself."

- John Dewey

Below reflects components of my school vision. My school vision incorporates aspects of my teaching philosophy. I believe that education should provide a highly supportive yet challenging environment that molds students into life-long learners, so they can realize that education is not just about going to school and taking exams year after year but it is a continuous process where one evolves in all aspects of life. Learning occurs both inside and outside the classroom through the aspects below:

PROJECT-BASED & INTERDISCIPLINARY APPROACH

In order for students to understand how the various content disciplines actually connect and engage in a sustained inquiry process, I believe a school should practice an interdisciplinary approach. I want students to have a more in depth understanding of the material they are learning at hand. I think blending that with a project-based approach at school allows for students to tap into their interests and take responsibility for learning. Having students working toward a large project will allow students to learn how to set short-term and long-term goals and become more invested in their education. It would also spark curiosity. Each unit can end in a different type of task that models a skill necessary to be college and career ready—writing a research paper or lab report, creating a PowerPoint, defending an argument, creating a portfolio, among other things.

COLLABORATION

In order for any school to succeed there needs to be collaboration--among students, among staff, and among different stakeholders. For example, teachers and school leaders should be collaborating with families for the greater good of supporting students. Collaboration must be fostered through trust. I think when true collaboration exists, there is a sense of a strong school culture. I think a school should create a feeling of family. For teachers to collaborate, I think a school leader should create structures such as common planning with protocols in place. By fostering collaboration among staff, teachers will feel more comfortable offering and receiving support. It is important for staff to model collaboration so students can learn by example. By having project-based learning, students can learn with direct practice how to collaborate.

REAL-WORLD EXPOSURE

I think it is important for school to play an active role in providing real-world exposure to students in order to "bridge the gap between the classroom and the world." It is important that students are graduating not only with a grasp of content but with necessary skills to function in the professional enviroment. Very often, we find that students are not aware how to dress for success or how to talk in an interview. As a result, it is important we provide our students experiences to gain such life skills, whether through internships, community service, attending conferences and trips, or travel. This will help extend students' experiences beyond the classroom. Through real-world exposure, students will be able to become an integral part of their community.

SCHOOL TRADITIONS

School traditions are important for creating a strong sense of school culture. Having experienced a strong sense of community from attending a small Catholic high school, I want students to have the same pleasant atmosphere. A significant part to that "family" feeling was school traditions. I want to have a school where students look forward to events year after year--whether that is a career day, a talent show, or a staff vs. student basketball game. School traditions create a sense of consistency, which many students do not have in their lives. School traditions create unity among staff. When students graduate, they will always hold on to the memories of school traditions, and are more likely to contribute their time and money because of a a sense of attachment.

EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES

Students need to develop both academically and socially. Extracurricular activities become a great avenue for students to discover their interests and develop social skills. Extracurricular activities are important for creating a sense of community at school as well. Whether it is through sports or performing arts, students desire a sense of belonging. I think as a school, it is important we provide opportunities such as extracurricular activities so students can learn about time management, prioritizing, and juggling various tasks. It also teaches them about long term commitments, which many struggle with and need to have practice. Furthermore, I think extracurricular activities are important for imporiving self-esteem. Students will feel they have made a contribution to the school or accomplished something for themselves, hence giving them a boost.