I had the honor and privilege to teach English 12 CPB and CPA as a paternity leave replacement. Although it was only 3 months, I learned so much about myself as an educator. During this time, I learned how to better manage different levels of classes ranging from lower learning levels to advanced accelerated courses. I taught a myriad of English lessons, and most importantly, I have learned the importance of establishing meaningful relationships with students. They view me as a role model, and I work to live up to their expectation of me. My ultimate goal as an educator is to ensure that my students become better people than they were when they first walked into my classroom. I want them to be more confident readers and writers. 

My methodology revolves around one central point—teaching students the value of perspective. When students are working on a text, I want them to understand that it’s not just about exploring that text to earn a grade; it’s about teaching the value of perspective. My personal love for English, especially reading, grew out of the recognition that books allow us to walk in someone else’s shoes and experience something new. This concept is universal because the readers will oftentimes learn something valuable that they might be able to use going forward in life. 

I try to live my life with purpose, and I believe every student is worthy and has great potential. There is value in everyone, and I aspire to show every student their worth. As a substitute teacher, this looks different every day.  I entered this field during the heart of Covid and have learned that students are struggling to get back to "normal." Many students are still adjusting to the "new -post-Covid normal," but I have learned to take into account the social and emotional state of every student. Even with the post-Covid challenges, I found this year to be the most formative for me as an educator. I built a great rapport with the senior class and took the initiative to mentor them as they navigated their way through their senior year of high school. I also created long-lasting relationships with fellow educators that have helped shaped me immensely to understand the complexities of our youth today. It is through amazing friendships and mentorship that I feel prepared to assist students through the challenges and anxieties of these formative years. It is my goal to provide students with an education that focuses more on the core components of being human.

My student teaching experience was such a positive and fulfilling one. I student taught in a general education 4th-grade classroom with approximately 20 students. In the five months that I spent with my 4th-grade students, I learned as much from them as they did from me! While I do not plan on teaching in the primary grade levels, I am grateful for the experience, as I will use the skills and lessons learned in my future classroom. The most important thing I learned was the value of making connections. This reminds me of a quote by Joh Maxwell, "students don't care what you know until they know that you care." 

The relationships I developed with my 4th graders were solidified over the five months we spent together. It was very rewarding for me to see them develop over time. I learned that a healthy and positive classroom environment where students feel safe will naturally help students build positive relationships with not only myself but also with each other. Because I was able to form these connections and get to know each student on an individual level, I was able to see more success, more engagement, and more collaboration in the classroom. I built a classroom environment where students displayed mutual respect. It was through the positive rapport I had with my students that I was able to see such success.