Catherine Reid

Professional Development I
Dr. Pate
Vision Statement
Every child deserves a champion an adult who will never give up on them, who
understands the power of connection and insists that they become the best that they can possibly be.
My vision for teaching and learning is to impact the lives of my students like my teachers had done for
me. I enjoy helping others and want to give back to the community and play an important role in the
lives of my students. A teacher is more than just someone who educates children on the necessary
curriculum; a teacher is a positive role model to their students, someone who can guide them in the
right direction when needed. When I was younger and even today, I look up to my teachers/professors
and strive to be like them once I graduate. Throughout my life, my teachers have been some of the only
positive role models that I have had. I want to be that positive role model and guide my future students
in the right direction.
There are several essential qualities that a teacher should have, such as being accountable,
compassionate, organized, engaging, and trustworthy. Teachers are responsible for teaching a certain
curriculum to each student so they may progress onto the next grade. Sometimes we may have to teach
a lesson several different ways so that each student is able to understand. Teachers are well known for
their compassion towards their students and their passion to teach. Organization is a key to running a
successful classroom. Things in the classroom can get chaotic and hard at times, but being organized
can be very beneficial and helpful when put in these situations. Keeping students engaged through the
learning process is the main key to everyones success in the classroom. Students are better involved if
the teacher is properly engaged. One of the most essential qualities, in my opinion, that a teacher can
possess is trustworthiness. Patience is an important quality to have as a teacher, especially when
teaching kindergarten through second grade. My goal is to teach kindergarten, so I know that I will have
to have a lot of patience and will need to keep calm around my students. As a teacher, students look up
to you as a role model and strive to be like you, whether they admit it or not. Therefore, they need to
be able to confide in you and trust that they can go to you for their questions on homework and maybe
even their questions about life in general.
Above all else, teachers should be committed to their students and the level of education being
provided to each and every one of them. There may be times where you may not have a students as
eager to learn as the others or a student who questions everything you say. Teaching isnt about being
liked by every single one of your students (although that would be nice), it is about teaching students
and helping them grow through learning. To be truly committed to your students you must be willing to
educate them no matter the circumstances. Being committed to your students means going above and
beyond your job expectations; you may have to look up different ways to teach a lesson just to get one
student to comprehend it or stay after school with them to make sure they understand the material.
My goal is to be fully committed to educating my students and helping them become successful.
Teaching does not end when the final school bell rings, teaching goes beyond the school doors and the
learning never stops.

Catherine Reid
Professional Development I
Dr. Pate
References
Kagan, S. & Kagan, M. (2009). Kagan Cooperative Learning. San Clemente, CA: Kagan Publishing.
Qualities Of A Good Teacher. (2014, January 1). Retrieved September 18, 2014, from
http://www.latrobe.edu.au/education/becoming-a-teacher/qualities
Rita F. Pierson. (2014, January 1). Retrieved September 13, 2014, from
https://www.ted.com/speakers/rita_f_pierson