I've got a Master's degree in Education from UPenn and dual undergraduate degrees in Business Administration and English from SUNY Geneseo. I studied Shakespeare and the modern novel (think James Joyce) at Oxford University and architecture at the University of Texas at Austin. I know a little about a lot of things, but I love teaching/tutoring English and English lit. My fundamental educational values and beliefs are:
1. All students can learn. Informed by the research behind growth mindset, positive psychology, brain plasticity, and multiple intelligences (as well as anecdotal observations about the inquisitive nature of young children), I believe human beings are built to learn and to love learning. If a student is struggling in school, part of my job as an educator is to help him/her rediscover his/her passion for learning and improve self-efficacy by scaffolding that student toward success.
2. Diversity is a tremendous strength. All students can learn, but not all students are meant to be academics. The world needs professional athletes, artists, businesspeople, craftspeople, and every permutation of diverse vocation. Success is not narrowly defined. However, people in all walks of life should have access to high-quality education and the opportunity to enrich a chosen vocation with wide-ranging knowledge about other fields and the world we occupy. All people should also develop empathy for others whose lives look very different and should be encouraged to embrace the belief that we should use our talents to make the world a better place. We should recognize and celebrate our differences and diversity in our thinking and learning processes.
3. Character education is as important as academics. Developing a language around character and helping students build character strengths alongside their academic strengths is vital. Social-emotional awareness, a personal code of morality/ethics, empathy, and compassion are part of what make us human, and education divorced from those things will not be as effective as holistic education.
4. Teachers must lead by example. Teachers should be committed to perpetual learning and self-improvement - both alongside their students every day, and by seeking professional development to deepen their expertise/broaden their competencies. They should be excited about learning, about their careers, about their students, and about the world and all its marvels (but still be grounded and realistic). Teachers should be role models for emotional and physical wellness, but should also model feedback-seeking, growth mindset, and the willingness to fail or stumble and be accountable for mistakes and imperfections.
5. Learning is relationship-based. Students learn best from adults they love and trust. Teachers should care enough to get to know their students' interests, families, histories, and personalities. Students should also be able to trust that their teachers see the best in them, are honest with them, advocate for them, and protect and defend their best interests.