Teaching Philosophy

I conceptualize learning as a life-long process that occurs not just in the classroom but also when students leave the formalized educational setting, whether in-person or online. I view learning as a collaborative effort where teacher and student are working, in relation, to learn and unlearn. I hold the belief that as educators we must lead and teach with compassion because learning can only occur in environments that foster a sense of safety for students to be intellectually curious and explore difficult topics. Therefore, my role as an educator is to ensure that I create a kind, caring, and accepting atmosphere in the classroom and beyond so that students are free to ‘flex’ their intellectual and affective curiosity muscles. Moreover, the primary goal of teaching is to help students become critical thinkers, so that when they are presented with information outside the classroom, they are equipped with the necessary knowledge and skills to question and analyze the material they are seeing, hearing, and reading. In this way, students are prepared to be active and contributing members, not only in the classroom, but in their broader communities as well. These skills are also essential in the workforce where students will be presented with ethical dilemmas they must navigate.