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Principled teaching emphasizes the professional responsibilities and ethical practices that teachers must uphold to ensure effective teaching and student success. This domain highlights the importance of self-reflection, continuous professional growth, and maintaining integrity in all interactions. It focuses on teachers’ accountability to their students, families, colleagues, and the community, as well as their commitment to equity, fairness, and the broader goals of education. By embodying these principles, teachers model professionalism and create a foundation of trust and respect within the learning environment.
4a: Engaging in Reflective Practice
This component focuses on the teacher’s commitment to continuously evaluating and improving their own teaching. Reflective practice involves teachers regularly assessing their lessons, strategies, and student outcomes to identify strengths and areas for growth. By engaging in thoughtful reflection, teachers can adjust their approaches, enhance their effectiveness, and ensure they are meeting the diverse needs of their students. This process promotes ongoing professional growth and a deeper understanding of how to support student learning.
The teaching profession is continuously evolving in areas such as pedagogy, classroom management, and student engagement. Effective educators must stay responsive to these changes by regularly reviewing and applying new instructional strategies in the classroom. While self-assessment is valuable, teachers should also seek honest feedback from students, as it can significantly strengthen their teaching. At Leyden, I administered a survey where students provided thoughtful responses to questions aimed at offering constructive criticism of my performance. After receiving the feedback, I applied it to improve my teaching and made stronger connections with my students as a result.
4c: Engaging Families and Communities
Emphasizes the importance of building strong relationships with students' families and the broader community. Teachers are encouraged to communicate regularly with families, keep them informed about student progress, and involve them in the learning process. By fostering partnerships with families and community members, teachers can enhance student success, create a supportive network for students, and align classroom goals with the values and resources available in the community. Effective engagement helps create a collaborative environment that benefits students' educational experiences.
Teachers should prioritize forming meaningful connections with students while also recognizing the importance of building partnerships with parents. As educators, we engage with students for only a portion of their day, while the majority of their time is spent outside the classroom. Collaborating with parents creates a consistent message and support system that benefits student outcomes. Involved parents can connect with their students in ways that complement classroom efforts and provide teachers with valuable insights to offer targeted support. This is an example of an email I sent to a parent, resulting in greater success for the student.
4f: Acting in Service of Students
Focuses on the teacher's responsibility to act in the best interest of their students both inside and outside the classroom. This includes advocating for students’ needs, supporting their well-being, and fostering equitable access to resources and opportunities. Teachers demonstrate professionalism by being student-centered in their decisions, maintaining high ethical standards, and collaborating with colleagues, families, and the community to support student success. Highlighting the importance of putting students first in all aspects of teaching.
Building rapport with students makes it easier to understand their unique needs and provide the support they require. This responsibility often involves advocating for students by collaborating with experienced professionals, such as counselors, social workers, and psychologists within the school system. During my time at Leyden, I actively reached out to support personnel to advocate on behalf of my students. Here is an example of a paragraph I sent to a student's support team regarding a scheduled IEP meeting. My goal was to collaborate with colleagues on effective strategies to assist the student and prepare thoroughly for a constructive and impactful meeting.
Teachers expect students to embrace constructive feedback and learn from their mistakes, and as educators, we must hold ourselves to the same standard. Growth as an educator depends on consistent self-reflection and the willingness to adapt and improve. My teaching philosophy highlights the importance of this ongoing process as a vital step toward becoming an effective teacher. Collaborating with support personnel and parents to address students' needs ensures the best outcomes for everyone involved. Ultimately, our priority must always be what is best for our students.
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