1

I believe a well-rounded multicultural approach, with a strong focus on student

empowerment, can prepare our youth for the changing environment they face. From an early age,
I made the choice to travel independently as much as possible. I have had the opportunity to
experience many places, people, and cultures around the world. The most important aspect I
learned from these travels was the benefits of stepping outside your comfort zone. Working with
children in all types of settings for over ten years has taught me that in a world of multicultural
diverse learners there is a strong need for stepping outside comfort zones. I believe that educators
should approach teaching as culturally responsive as possible so that they can empower students
to perform well within the classroom, as well as guide them to a better understanding of
themselves and others.
The world is constantly evolving and it is only natural that our classrooms do the same.
My goal is to effectively teach content in a creative, engaging way that will address the needs of
my class. Every student possesses different traits physically, culturally, and within their
character, and so, it is only logical from an educational perspective that they all are different
types of learners as well. The creativity expressed within my lessons will allow students to see
firsthand that different and unique is a positive character trait. By utilizing different teaching
styles and tactics students can then see and accept that they are different learners. By learning
how my students learn and by having them learn how they learn, I can instruct at the highest
success rate possible. It is the role of the teacher to address each student's learning styles and
create meaningful lessons to accompany their learning, and I plan to do that continuously. As a
teacher, I hope to analyze my student population and teach in a way that will enable them all to
have a deeper understanding of the information being presented. Whether I am teaching with the
most up to date technology or with hands on teacher created materials, I will expose my students

to all the world has to offer. They will see all of their potential and understand what they can
accomplish when they think critically, reflect deeply, and express themselves creatively. The
methods I use in my classroom will work simultaneously current New York State Common Core
Standards and as a result my students will be on or exceed the state level expectations.
As a future educator, I hope to be a culturally competent teacher by aiding my students in
the understanding of American culture while simultaneously fostering the growth and pride in
the many cultures that make up their classrooms and communities. I hope to utilize the ideas of
James Banks by creating a community both within my classroom and throughout the school. In
the creation of this community, I see it as essential for all students and staff to view and respect
each other in a positive and equal way while at the same time commend one another on the
different and unique qualities that make us who we are. Children must be taught to appreciate
and value the cultural and educational differences they see within their peers and it is the
responsibility of the teachers to pave the way for this sort of awareness. With a mutual respect
and understanding of one another, students will have to the tools to prosper academically,
socially, and inter-culturally.
I strongly believe that being a teacher and an advocate involves more than teaching
content. We are contributing to who these young children will become in the future. It is
essential to demonstrate and aid in the formulation of positive student character. The hope is that
all of my students can be competent both within the walls of my classroom and in their own
personal lives and communities. I wish not to show them what I think positive moral fiber is, but
simply to guide them so that they may make that distinction on their own. I hope that by finding
these qualities in an organic way, students will deem them important, and in the future they will

be able to have a firm understanding of who they are as people and who they would like to
become.
Just as my student's characters are evolving, I hope to evolve my teaching strategies by
becoming an effective reflective practitioner. I understand that excellence is only achieved
through dedication to one's profession. Thus, I hope to consistently analyze aspects of my
teaching. I will constantly evolve by continuing to learn both within my classroom and from my
colleagues. I will do my best to meet the needs of students, parents, and administrators, and will
inquire about what I can do better to meet their expectations when necessary.
Ideas about education are constantly being developed and I am aware that new
philosophies and theories will accompany and influence my beliefs. My hope is that with my
strong character and desire to succeed, I can continuously adopt ideas that will further my
students on their own paths to academic success.