About Me

My Educational Philosophy

There are many beliefs that contribute to my philosophy of education however, what is most important to me, is establishing positive relationships with students and staff. I believe that without positive relationships, none of my other beliefs can exist. For it is through these relationships that we gain trust, respect, and knowledge to create supportive classrooms to assist students in developing academically, socially, and emotionally.

I believe that as educators, it is our role to embrace all students, families, and staff with an open mind and open heart. Knowing that our communities are filled with diverse needs, challenges and exceptionalities, we must, through our daily practice model powerful Catholic values rooted in the messages pronounced by Pope Francis. He states, “You[educators] must not teach just content, but the values and customs of life. A computer can teach content.  Instead, there are three things that you must transmit: how to love, how to understand, and which values and customs create harmony in society.”

I believe that the role of educators is to enrich the lives of students through their intellectual, social, physical, emotional, and spiritual growth. This growth should occur in a safe and uninhibited environment, free from prejudice, judgement, and ridicule.

I believe that all educators should approach education as a lifelong process in which they are willing to learn from their students, colleagues, and their environment. As educators, we must reflect and evaluate the effects of our teaching on our students’ learning and achievement.

I believe that as educators, we must establish a safe environment for children that supports and affirms their individual worth and dignity as human beings. Building self-esteem and positive reinforcement are essential aspects for creating an inviting environment for students to feel safe to take risks and learn.

I believe that learning is an interactive process and as educators, we must guide our students on this journey through questioning and investigating ideas. Allowing students to explore and investigate, make mistakes and teach others about their new findings is critical. Integrating technology through various apps, extensions, websites, and programs (e.g. Google Classroom), provides opportunities for differentiation and addressing students’ learning styles and interests.

I believe that the education process is a shared responsibility of the student, teachers, parents, and administrators. As educators, we need to work collaboratively with others for the success of all learners. Effective communication is key to building rapport, relationships, and trust among parents and staff so that they understand that you have the best interest and safety of the child at heart.

I believe that all students need to be provided with equal opportunities for learning. As educators, we need to create diverse lessons, that are engaging and spark interest in our students, using strategies that allow multiple opportunities for success of all learners. In addition, we must employ a variety of teaching strategies to accommodate the different learning styles of our students to assist them in achieving success.

I believe that it is essential to provide specific and timely feedback to students to assist them in building resiliency and strategies to improve their work. Encouraging a growth mindset throughout the process will allow them to accept and embrace mistakes as a part of the learning process.

In summary, as educators, we must be empathetic, compassionate, and flexible with our students and colleagues to assist in fostering positive relationships and achieving success. I am a firm believer that our students may not remember every piece of curriculum we taught them throughout the school year, but they will always remember how we made them feel.

“No significant learning occurs without a significant relationship.”

By Dr. James Comer