Professional Mission Statement
(Long Version: @ Entry)

When teachers choose their concentration, they are undoubtedly guided by two influences: the teachers that guided them, and the subjects they excelled in. Ideally, those most influential teachers taught the subject in which the learner excelled. Because my favorite classes were science and my favorite teacher was the science teacher, I naturally went into the field. Many of my educational beliefs were formed in high school and remain generally intact.

I teach two different levels of students: the college prep students in chemistry and physics, and the CTC students in Practical Biology. This gives me two very different levels of students. In the chemistry and physics classes my expectations are higher; I expect students to learn everything I teach. In the biology class, I accept that biology is not important and I direct my instruction at conceptual ideas over raw knowledge (the tenth grade OGT will alter what I expect).

The next few years should find me perfecting my content knowledge in the sciences. I have no desire to remove myself from the classroom to go into “upper levels” of education. To me, being in that classroom is where the action is, where the lives are touched, and where the most impact can be made.

Professional Mission Statement
(Short Version: @ exit)

My mission is to educate children by continually reflecting on my current practice, adjusting curriculum and instruction to meet my student’s needs, collecting and analyzing relevant data, and actively engaging in learning via professional development that enhances any of the stated actions.