Philosophy

Although federal, state and local districts restrict curriculum taught and guide materials used, they've left teachers with some wiggle room for applying the craft of teaching. Classroom management and the methodology used is still, thankfully, up to the individual teacher. Within this wiggle room of teaching, my goal is to create an environment where every child finds success, feels empowered to take chances and isn't afraid to fail, values the actions that lead to discovery and critical thinking, and understands the importance of working diligently to achieve a goal. Part of creating this environment involves teaching the importance of each child's part in the classroom, demanding responsibility for actions, and modeling respect for all. When I began teaching, the emphasis was on "teacher as facilitator" and thirteen years later, I continue to see this role as valuable, but I feel more like a "conductor" who, after being handed the musical score, is left to orchastrate the beauty in performance.