As an educator with a strong Christian background, I live on the statutes which God set forth and Jesus put into motion. Compassion, patience, understanding, and selflessness are all values I uphold and adhere to. Teachers are the support system and guidance for many young minds. We must be committed to serving our students by placing their needs before our own. Ethically we accept all differences and remain unbiased in all decisions. Arriving early and most times staying late are the fates we accept when becoming an educator.

In my self-assessment, I stand by my belief that all students can learn, need support in their learning, and deserve the best quality education. As I seek to better my students I also display in my assessment a commitment to bettering myself by remaining professional, punctual, and unbiased. My only reservation is in handling the matter of a student’s differences such as cultural or developmental. I believe that I must understand every child’s situation, but I must not separate that student or pinpoint every difference. Being sensitive sometimes teachers pay too much attention to that student’s differences or may keep them hidden. I believe this is a balancing act of celebrating that difference without singling out a group of students or an individual student.

While in my program of study, I have learned to adapt and adjust. These two soft skills are impertinent to the craft of teaching. Every day is different, and changes come daily. It is vital to our students’ well-being to make changes and accommodations when the case arises. I have often had to rewrite or adjust teaching styles to fit student needs. This has been the biggest learning curve in my program of study thus far.

 When looking at the professional dispositions it is definitely reminiscent of a resume soft skills list. The Model Code of Ethics in relation to the dispositions are ways to enact those soft skills. Professionalism is listed as a disposition, but it is laid more clearly in the Model Code of Ethics as it lists the ways in which relationships must be handled in order to keep a professional disposition.

 Improvement is always welcome, and I always see myself as someone that could use much molding. My community relations with parents and teachers could be worked on. I usually shy away from situations that are uncomfortable socially, but I realize that it is worth the uncomfortable to ensure a student’s success. Also, understanding culture and differences will help me in handling a variety of students. I tread lightly on speaking about a student’s culture or tending to a student’s academic differences, but I realize the necessity of addressing each. It is my hope to make every student feel seen, included, and heard.