Educational Philosophy
There are 10 fundamental truths which guide me as a teacher, administrator, and educational leader. These principles contribute to my success and the success of the educational system which I serve:
“Start with the end in mind.” (Stephen Covey) The district's vision, mission, and goals are clear to all staff members and our actions help us to attain those results.
Education is a relationship business. There are many significant relationships that must be fostered by all involved in education; but the most important of these relationships are the relationships between the educators and the individual students.
“Success is never owned; it is only rented- and the rent is due every day.” (Rory Vaden) Every day we must do our best, reflect on what we did right, and learn from our mistakes. This applies to every individual in our educational organization.
We must work together. We need partnerships between homes, the community, and our schools.
“The most promising strategy for sustained, substantive school improvement is developing the ability of school personnel to function as Professional Learning Communities.” (Richard DuFour and Robert Eaker) Educators should be life-long learners, willing to learn from and teach one another.
We must use data to drive our decisions. The district-wide culture of using data is supported by a data-warehouse system, a clear vision for data usage, students examining their own data and setting learning goals, and an ongoing cycle of instructional improvement.
“You are only as good as the people you hire.” (Ray Kroc) Our people are our biggest investment, so we must recruit, select, and retain the best candidates.
The instructional climate must be safe as we foster a culture conducive to teaching and learning.
“Speak in such a way that others love to listen to you. Listen in such a way that others love to speak to you.” (Anonymous ) Leadership requires good communication skills. Listening and speaking are both equal parts of successful communication.
Extracurricular opportunities are a natural venue for teaching life lessons. Our coaches and advisers should promote concepts such as: leadership, follower-ship, compassion, teamwork, goal setting, and winning/losing with grace as these are the lessons from which the students will gain the most.