Unit 1-Eps Rough Draft
Unit 1-Eps Rough Draft
ETEC 424
“A good teacher can inspire hope, ignite the imagination, and instill a love of learning.”
These are the wise words of Brad Henry that have stuck with me for quite some time, and will
forever be engraved on my heart. What makes a good teacher? In my opinion, it begins with the
educator’s journey, and throughout that time purpose is revealed. I do not have the typical life
story, nor do I fall within the category of having a line of family members who were educators,
and as a result inherited the same career path blood flow. When I reflect on where I used to be in
life and what I thought I knew then, versus what I know now, I am elated for what the future
holds and the many innocent lives that I will influence, yet be just as deeply impacted by. I know
that there is a basis for my journey and experience gained thus far, and it’s because of it that I
I have always known that I loved kids. My first “job” was babysitting! What I didn’t
know at the beginning of my college career was that I’d want to work with them and be the light
that I desperately needed at different stages of my own school life. The first real job I acquired
was a Coordinator position for an after-school care program for elementary students, grades
kindergarten through sixth. For the five years that I worked in this role, I was exposed to a lot,
both good and bad! This title set the tone for what I knew was going to set my soul on fire.
Seven years ago, my passion originated. For two of those years, I dived deeper in the field of
education as an instructional aide which has opened my eyes even more. I’ve been fortunate
enough to be able to sub in all grade levels, and work within the specials department of SSI
(Student Success Initiative) assisting teachers and their students academically. As a result, my
confidence has amplified even more! The more knowledge I’ve gained, the more I want to
implement change and give to students. I believe that the field of education is immensely
underrated, and while it’s ever changing, it could still be so much better. It’s important to me that
my passion for teaching never dims first and foremost, because while it may not be fully
required, a quality teacher knows that a multitude of hats are worn on the job. It’s also important
that I provide opportunity, nurture, and bestow love to each unique child that I encounter,
because every face tells and hides a story that I may know nothing about. I’m not currently a
mother, however I will be given the gift each year to fiercely equip students with the tools
necessary to be successful academically and socially. Some effective strategies would include
more! I want to be the educator that many (not all) of mine weren’t - exceptional! Every morning
can be the start of something new. Once my little learners are able to feel at home in my
classroom and confidently carry their own torch, learning can be both a smooth task and a
marathon they are willing to run because they’ll have me as the coach. With patience and
persistence, I know my students will truly learn something because they’ll be cognizant of the
concepts they learn (academic or not) and apply their knowledge to other things such as, building
on to other concepts or assisting others in explaining what they know to them, so they too can
I can motivate my students to believe in themselves and their capabilities, then that will be the