Vision Statement

A leader has the vision and conviction that a dream can be achieved.
He inspires the power and energy to get it done. Ralph Lauren
As a teacher this is exactly what I will encourage in my classroom
on a daily basis. Teaching is both an art and a science that requires
qualities from both disciplines to be an affective teacher. I believe that
a teacher must possess essential qualities and skills, as well as foster
specific elements of a classroom to create the power and energy
required to make students want to be successful.
Essential Qualities
The teacher of students should uphold a good moral character in
order to effective both in and outside of the classroom. This stems from
what I feel is the most important standard in the Educators Code of
Ethics, The educator shall be of good moral character and be worthy
to instruct or supervise the youth of this state (Texas Administrative
Code, 2010). A teacher should be accountable, which entails holding
themselves to the same expectations as they hold the students.
A teacher needs to be caring and compassionate, recognizing
students have problems outside of schools and going the extra mile to
make necessary adjustments to help them be successful. They need to
be dedicated to showing up everyday with a good attitude and
enthusiasm to teach. A teacher must have the grit it takes to overcome
any obstacle thrown at them and still reach a long-term goal. The
students need to be able to trust and believe in their teacher. Most of
all a teacher must be passionate about what they are doing, and think
of it as an opportunity to better the life of every student they
encounter.
Essential Skills
One of the most important skills a teacher must possess is
respect. The teacher not only respects and is sensitive to all learners
but also encourages the use of all their skills and talents (TEA, 1994).
It is important for the teacher to find what makes each student an
individual and make those differences positively impact their
education. A teacher must be adaptable in order to make necessary
changes to an activity or lesson. They need to be determined to find
any means necessary to reach every student and get them to buy into
what is being taught. They must be able to motivate students to
become life long learners. A teacher needs to be both patient and
resilient. They must possess the ability to see the whole picture and
not allow adversity to stop them from accomplishing their goals.
A teacher needs to be resourceful because they may not always
have the means or materials necessary for a lesson or activity, but can
most always find a way to make things happen. Lastly, communication

is a vital skill for a teacher to possess. Communication needs to

happen on a daily basis with the students, parents, administrators, and
other teaching staff. These skills are necessary for allowing to students
to learn in the most effective way.
Essential Elements of Classroom
The classroom must be a place that fosters learner-centeredness.
In order to do this the teacher collaboratively identifies needs; and
plans, implements, and assesses instruction using technology and
other resources (TEA, 1994). The classroom needs to be a creative
and cooperative environment in which students are free to express
themselves through learning. According to Kagan (2009), Students in
cooperative learning classrooms outperform those in individualistic
classrooms (pg. 3.2). The classroom needs to be organized so that the
teacher can access materials quickly. An essential element of a learnercentered classroom is that it is not limited to four walls. A students
mind is not limited to anything so the environment they learn in does
not need to be either. Another vital element of the classroom is that it
needs to be movement oriented. Jensen stated, Physical movements
such as standing, stretching, walking, or marching can increase brain
amine levels, which can help improve attentional focus (2005, pg. 51).
Closing
I will be the leader to help students achieve their dreams in any
situation, no matter how big that dream or situation may be. Big
thinking comes before achievement and I want to show students that
with hard work and perseverance they will find success. I want to
inspire them to have a vision for their life that seems nearly
impossible, so that I can reveal to them that if they limit their dreams
only to what seems reasonable then they are removing themselves
from what they truly want.

References
Jensen, Eric (2005). Teaching with the Brain in Mind: 2nd Edition.
Alexandria, VA:

Association for Supervision and Curriculum

Development
Josephson, Michael (2012). Leadership Insights: 100 of the Best Quotes
Ever on Leadership Selected by Michael Josephson. Retrieved from
http://josephson institute.org/business/blog/2012/10/leadershipinsights-100of-the-best-quotes

ever-on-leadership-selected-by-

michael-josephson/
Kagan, Spencer, & Kagan, Miguel (2009). Kagan Cooperative Learning.
San Clemente,

CA: Kagan Publishing.

Texas Secretary of State. (2010). Texas administrative code of ethics

and standard

practices for Texas educators. Retrieved from

http://info.sos.state.tx.us/pls/pub/readtac$ext.TacPage?
sl=R&app=9&p_dir&p_
loc=&p_tloc=&p_ploc&pg=1&p_tac=&ti=19&pt=7&ch=247&rl=2
Texas Education Agency. (1994). Learner-Centered Schools for Texas: A
Vision of Texas

Educators. Retrieved from

http://www4.esc13.net/uploads/pdas/docs/LearnerCenteredSchools.pdf