Philosophy

I believe it is vital for a child to feel they have a team of academic allies to support them and build up enthusiasm, grit, and determination to succeed and be college-bound. I want to be a teacher that helps lead a child to say, "Yes, I can!" "¡Si se puede!" It's empowering for students to know that they can achieve greatness even when the odds, their neighborhood, their home life, the status quo may say they can't. With dependability and warmth, it is equally important that I connect and partner with the local community and families to encourage and inspire students to become young people who persevere through academic challenges and the adversities that life may bring.

Positive Learning Environment

Instituting robust frameworks for students is critical, especially as my classes' DNA from year-to-year changes. That said, I must get to know my students and build trust from the start of each school year. Trust doesn't come without strategically building a positive learning environment. The process is intentional, planned out, and thoughtfully executed. Furthermore, setting the positive learning environment's expectations should be a collaborative effort where classroom routines are explicitly taught, setting the foundation for students' academic success. Students need to know classroom norms before instruction begins. Setting up solid systems for academic, social, and emotional success weave together constructing a framework that helps students focus, engage, and meaningfully participate in hearing and responding to what their teachers and classmates are saying. When students are set up well for success, this helps target instruction, assess, give positive feedback, and celebrate growth.