My educational philosophy centers around what is known as Constructivism. This is the belief that each person must build or construct a framework of knowledge based on what they already know prior to anything new being useful to them. Information is nothing more than useless symbols until it is processed and understood by a thinking mind. It also embraces the idea that how one thinks is more important than regurgitating factual information. I believe that thinking is a process which must be practiced through: hands-on demonstrations, scenarios, role-playing, simulations, team-learning, as well as more traditional methodology, until the mind becomes dynamic and flexible enough to handle any problem that might come along. It is more important to me to provide useful information and give students the skills they will be able to apply in real world situations instead of wasting our time on meaningless trivia, which will be forgotten as soon as we finish a unit or take a test.

I believe that Teachers have the world's greatest job. To be able to give children the tools to suceed in life, is a privilege. I feel, however, that this privilege should be the sole property of those who truely have a passion to help children, regardless of family income, academic skills, and/or learning disabilities. Once the bell rings, the halls quiet, the children sit, and the teacher speaks, it is our duty to do anything and everything it takes to make sure that every child undrestands the material being taught.

Diversity Statement

When teaching students from a variety of different backgrounds, race, religious beliefs, and cultural differentces, I assumes the enormous responsibility of their education. Part of that responsibility is providing an environment that recognizes and reflects the diversity of people who make up American society. I, then, must be responsive to the needs of a diverse community and reach out to include people of diverse ethnic, racial, economic, and gender groups. I also understand that unless we can more effectively welcome and incorporate women and minority students, we will not be providing training for the full pool of potential talent.