Philosophy

The mediocre teacher tells.
The good teacher explains.
The superior teacher demonstrates.

The great teacher inspires.　
~William Arthur Ward

My Passion: To Teach, To Inspire

       A teacher who influences her students by showing compassion and by teaching passionately in the classroom is most honorable and worthy of all praises. She is a teacher who assumes the role of not only teacher, but also mother and friend. This goes without saying that teachers should not become “best friends forever” with their students, but teachers should maintain the qualities that a friend has with a friend. Nonnegotiable respect, unwavering loyalty, and a steadfast love are what make a teacher truly passionate. Teachers who share their experiences with students foster a type of love appropriate for the classroom. Students learn to trust the teacher and welcome the fact that she is willing to impart her passion in ways that not only teach them, but reach them. Teachers have such a bigger job than to produce a great lesson plan and convey some new literature knowledge or grammar skills to their students. The responsibility is much larger than that.
     Thankfully, I have had the most awesome opportunity to be taught by some very passionate teachers in elementary school, high school, college, and in my graduate program. They taught me what true teaching is. In order for my students to feel my passion, see my passion, or even hear my passion, they must first look at me as a person. My students learn my story in the beginning as I learn theirs. In learning one another’s stories we are creating meaningful relationships. I have been doing this for years now and my students an I are creating very powerful and meaningful relationships.
      Not only do passionate teachers mold their students, those teachers are in return affected by their students. At times, teachers find themselves in a lofty position, perhaps believing that a student could scarcely affect them in a positive and meaningful way. It is then that the teacher should question their own meaning in life and what her hopes and desires actually are. Is it to change the lives of students and take on a bigger responsibility, owning whatever crisis is present in the students’ lives? My true motivation is fueled by the well being of my students, what is really best for them. I know if I did not display compassion in my classroom that I would not be true to myself. I will not sacrifice who I am and what I have been called to do to alienate myself from my students and create an unhealthy atmosphere for them and for me. My students give my life meaning. I want to inspire them and help them recognize the meaning of their own lives. This is passion.
      Ralph Waldo Emerson said that “Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm.” So I teach with all I have, as enthusiastically as I can, in order to not only teach my students, but reach them in a way that makes an impact. I want them to remember the things I teach--not throw it away as soon as they learn it. I am allowed to be the teacher who helps to relate the subject to the students’ lives. This enables me more freedom. I attempt to give a voice to what I teach. For instance, we read the poem but I do not instantly spit out answers or my own inferences. I allow the students to read the poem for what it is and then we discuss it. This leaves so much room open for new ideas and new ways to look at a piece of literature or poem. Real learning can take place and that is what I want to impart more than anything.

Sound your barbaric yawp!

5 Year Goals:

1. Finish EDS program at LaGrange College. I am behind a bit, so I will finish my program summer 2012. With that, I will have finished my 10th year teaching in Georgia. I thought about a new phase of my life.

2. I would like to move. Don't know where or when, but change is coming.

3. I would like to continue teaching at the college level and perhaps work full time at a community college or small university like my Alma Mater, Athens State University in Athens, Alabama.

4. I would like to pursue a doctorate in some facet of education. I do see myself working in education for a long while, but in what area(s) I do not know. I even thought about working in central office.

5. I would like to move to Chicago, work for Second City, then move to New York and work at Saturday Night Live. This is a long-life aspiration!