My Professional Philosophy

Writing my own personal philosophy began with a lot of thought and contemplation. I know what I believe, but I’m looking forward to writing down my thoughts and seeing just how dynamic my thinking runs. The eclecticism of my beliefs will serve me through the next chapters of my life, providing a sound philosophy to guide me and base my decisions on.

Health and Physical Education have always been two areas that were very important to me. More important than the subject content is the way each of these have entered my life and how they have affected me. What attracted me in the first place were the people that taught me about Health and Physical Education. I knew at a very young age I wanted to have an impact on others as these people had had on me.

The Alabama Educator Code of Ethics gives us nine standards that should be upheld by professionals in the field. These standards, along with my passion for being an effective teacher, are the base for my professional philosophy and my career. I strongly believe that to be an effective teacher, one must have developed their own sense of self. Only with the sense of who I am will I be able to reach my students in an effective and relevant way. My excitement about subject matter is irrelevant without the connection with my students.

My goal for writing this paper is to understand fully what I believe to be true and necessary to be able to excel in my profession. My number one concern is and always will be the student. My role as a gymnastics coach has given me insight on how impressionable these kids are and how much they desperately need guidance and support from their teachers. Students need their teachers to be there for them. Sometimes a teacher is all a student has and we must not take for granted the position that we hold. I value the time that I get to spend with each one of my students and to have them FEEL that is almost indescribable. I appreciate my students most when they share with me new things they’ve learned, and it over joys me to know that they’re sharing with me because they know I truly care.

Displaying trustworthiness, along with having an appropriate relationship with each of my students are two characteristics that are most important to me as an educator, and coincidentally, these comply with Code of Ethics set for Alabama Educators. Accepting my students as individuals, sharing with them my passions (playing, laughing, seeking knowledge, listening, fairness) and having them share their passions with me set me apart from others and help me understand and appreciate myself and others better. A good teacher is fair, conducts herself in an ethical way, professionally and personally, encourages her students to fulfill their potentials, promotes health and wellness, values differences, has a developed a sense of self, incorporates different approaches to teaching, sets clear objectives for her students so they may feel a sense of accomplishment, builds character, is technologically literate, and is passionate about their work.

My only hope after articulating what is important to me is that I am able to live the example that I want to portray. I want to reflect through the programs that I teach my own responsibility to my role. One of my own personal goals is to be more thoughtful and open minded when making decisions. I know that I can only get better with practice and I’m very excited to begin this new journey.