Philosophy of Education
Finding pieces of myself in every student I work with drives me as an educator. We can all relate to being told we have potential and still experiencing failure regardless of race, color, or creed. My educational philosophy encompasses connecting care and concern, and I start the day with one general question: "Are you ok"? My core belief is that when you approach a learner from the standpoint of compassion, all other things in reference to education can fall in line. Students desire to be heard, respected, and appreciated. I never assume these things happen automatically at home, so I consciously bring these actions to the classroom every day.
I believe in transparency as an educator, so honesty and straightforward expectations are set from day one. My students know I will support them without restrictions, but they will be held accountable to the standards necessary for success. When learners finish my program, they enter a world of adulthood. Therefore, the youth must understand life's realities and complex challenges before earning high school equivalency. In addition, I stress that there are no stupid questions and encouragement to speak out is something I promote upon meeting students because a closed mouth doesn't get fed. Since I work for an alternative adult program, many of my learners have dropped out of school for various reasons, and I am sensitive and aware of those factors. However, it is essential to hold students accountable, as self-efficacy and responsibility are two attributes that lead to stability, something many of the youth I work with struggle with daily. I champion all-inclusive teaching approaches and believe it takes a village to raise a child. All hands should be on deck for support services—parents, administrators, teachers, and any staff member that comes across our children. There are many things I do that are outside the scope of my job description because our youth have more needs today than what is seen in a teaching application to work. Consistently making an effort to listen to comprehend is a must when working with learners of all ages. Not hearing students out will lead to confusion, frustration, and counterproductive situations.
Furthermore, my working career has been in two fields I am passionate about - education and entertainment. It has been my life goal to combine the two to captivate and leave a positive impression on the youth I serve. When identifying career goals with students, I get them to envision their hobbies and how they can transform them into a legit and viable occupation. After all, I live by the quote, "If you do what you love, you will never work a day in your life."
NJ Youth Corps Info: https://www.nj.gov/labor/career-services/special-services/youth/njyouthcorps.shtml
