Eliana Ali

Who Am I?

I am a wife, a mother of four, and someone who has always had a heart for children. My journey in education has taken me through different roles that shaped who I am today. I started as a Lead Teacher in a daycare, then became a substitute teacher, and later worked in Early Childhood Special Education (ECSE). Those experiences taught me patience, creativity, and how to support children with diverse needs. Now, I’ve moved on to working as a 1:1 paraprofessional and co-teacher in a 4th grade classroom, which has stretched me in new ways. My environment and experiences, including raising a daughter with autism, have shown me the importance of inclusion and advocacy. All of these influences are what push me toward becoming a teacher. I want to create safe, structured, and caring spaces where every child can succeed.

What I Know...

One of the most valuable things I know is that teaching is about relationships and community. In ECSE, I learned how structure and routines help young learners feel secure. In 4th grade, I see how collaboration and encouragement keep older students motivated. I know how to work as part of a team with teachers, specialists, and families to support students. I can teach my classmates about patience, flexibility, and the importance of meeting students where they are. For students, I can teach them kindness, respect, and perseverance skills that go beyond academics and prepare them to be better people.

Me at this year's teachers conference!

What I Have to Learn

Even though I’ve learned so much, I know I still have a lot to grow into. Working in 4th grade has shown me that I need to keep learning about how to reach students with different cultural and learning backgrounds. I also want to get stronger at planning lessons that challenge students at all levels, especially in an inclusive classroom. To do this, I’ll push myself to listen more, ask questions, and keep learning about best practices for general education and special education. My goal is to keep developing into the kind of teacher who can balance structure with flexibility and always keep student needs at the center.

The Teacher I Will Become

The teacher I want to become is one who runs a student-centered classroom filled with respect, support, and opportunity. I believe the purpose of school is not only to teach academics, but also to help students grow into kind, capable, and confident people. In my classroom, students will learn through hands-on activities, collaboration, and real-world connections. They will value respect, responsibility, and inclusion. If someone walked into my classroom, they would see students actively engaged, working together, and a teacher who acts more like a guide than a boss.

The philosophy that fits me best is Progressivism, because I believe learning should connect to real life and focus on student needs. I also align with the Nurturing philosophy, because building relationships and supporting the whole child matters to me. A metaphor that describes me as a teacher is a gardener, giving each student the care and conditions they need to grow. My students are explorers, curious and capable of discovering new things when given the right tools and support.

My Philosophy: I guide my students with care and purpose, creating a classroom where every child is nurtured to grow and empowered to explore.

My Motto: Nurture the heart, guide the mind.

How I Used AI and My Current Thoughts About It

I used ChatGPT to help me brainstorm and organize my ideas for each section of this assignment. I also asked for suggestions for an AI-generated image that represents me as a teacher. The prompt I used for my image was: “Create an AI-generated picture of a teacher as a gardener with students as flowers, symbolizing nurturing and growth in the classroom.”

My current thoughts on AI are that it can be a helpful support tool for brainstorming and organizing ideas, but it should not replace my own voice. My policy is to use AI as a guide; while making sure my work is still personal and authentic to me.

Comments

I love you as Super teacher! - Dr. Kidd

I absolutely love your AI-generated picture. It clearly shows that you are passionate about helping your students grow in many ways. It is also important to me that my students value respect and gain confidence. You mentioned that you would like to learn more, ask more questions, and keep learning about the best practices, and I'd have to say I want the same for myself. Thank you for sharing. - Zainab Al-Dhahi

The plan of what kind of teacher you want to become is really interesting and I completely agree with your idea on what the reason for school is. I also like the idea on what you want to teach in your classroom besides of course the regular information - Emily Fields

I really love your AI generated image. Being an educator really feels like being a superhero, being able to accomplish achievements with students or helping them overcome a goal really feels like a reward. Comparing yourself as an educator to a superhero really shows that we can do just about anything! - Cheyenne Keefer

Hi Eliana, it was so nice reading your Author page. I think that is really cool that you are now working as a paraprofessional and co-teacher. I work with paraprofessionals at my job, and I've been able to meet such kind and caring people that just want to work with kids and help them be the best they can be. I love how relationships and community is something valuable to you. It is really important to have a good support system in schools especially - I appreciate your values! Balancing structure with flexibility is a really good balance because it helps the students engage in their learning and then also have a guide to lead them in the right direction. Your purpose for school and how it helps students grow is so beautiful. I believe you will make a really positive impact in a lot of students lives! - Anna Armstrong

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