I am dedicated to educating the whole child: emotionally, and academically. I am also committed to growing as a teacher, and to taking feedback to improve my methods and pedagogy. My time as a teacher has shown me that the job of a teacher is based on two different yet related pillars. Primarily, I need to educate children to be citizens of the word who can identify and counter racism, injustice, and inequity. Additionally, I need to meet the academic needs of children. These two roles must happen in conjunction, and help students to grow as critical thinkers who can change the world. Student success is highest when students are encouraged to question the world around them, and try to apply the concepts learned in the classroom to the outside world.