Core Educational Beliefs

I believe in teaching the whole child. It is important that we do not only teach to the academic growth of our students, but we offer student learning experiences in the arts, social-emotional development, STEAM, service, and more. This also includes giving students as many opportunities as possible for them to get involved at school and to find their place. Students need opportunities to learn and grow outside of the classroom and find their belonging.

Learning is creation, not consumption. Our students need to be making, creating, doing, sharing, collaborating, and publishing in ways that are meaningful to them, using real-world tools and understanding how their work impacts their futures and others. Student agency, empowerment, and engagement must become the norm, not the exception in education today. Providing students with opportunities to follow their passions, explore their interests, and engage in relevant opportunities that break down traditional classroom instruction. We need to move away from rote memorization to creating memorable learning experiences that allow students to be passionate about learning in Palos Heights School District 128.

I believe in universal design for learning. Universal design for learning is a way of thinking about teaching and learning that helps give all students an equal opportunity to succeed. This approach offers flexibility in how students have access to material, engage with it and show what they know. Through understanding universal design for learning, I believe in learner variability and the importance of engaging all learners in the classroom.