Personal Statement

Mary Town

My primary purpose as an educator is to be a guide. Every student possesses qualities that are personally unique. Each student is going to walk through a different door to the future. It is my hope that I will give my students the opportunities to find out who they are and the attributes that will make them successful. I feel that this approach will instill confidence and determination to go after their dreams. It is crucial that they leave me knowing that they are capable and have the strength to succeed. The greatest gift I can give the students that I come in contact with is faith in their own abilities.

As a teacher, one of my major goals is to create a safe environment where my students feel comfortable expressing themselves. In order to do this, it is important to establish a mutually respectful classroom environment. This requires getting to know who my students are and what they care about. I have learned that one of the most important links to students is communicating outside of class. Making myself reachable outside of class has opened the lines of communication in class.

Part of my job is to create opportunities where the students discover something about themselves. Learning becomes meaningful when the material being taught can be connected to the students’ lives. It is amazing to see the students taking control of the class and searching within themselves to find the answers. Becoming invested in the material empowers the students to take risks and move beyond the boundaries that they have set for themselves.

One of the most exciting things about being a teacher is when I have conceived a lesson and the students take ownership of the material. The end results are papers, projects, and stories that they have visualized, molded, and designed.

I have discussed what I wish my students would get from my classes. I personally gain something from the relationship and the interaction with students as well. I have been asked several times why I would “ever” want to work with teenagers. When I am asked, I look at my student and think to myself, isn’t obvious? They need me. But more importantly I need them. My students bring out the best in me, energy, enthusiasm, and creativity. I teach because I am committed to returning these gifts. I teach because I can make the difference between someone “sitting” in class and someone “engaged” in class.

The energy, enthusiasm, creativity that I feel when I dream up, plan, and implement a lesson should be and is contagious. It is important for the students to see me excited about the class. I love hearing, “What are we going to do today?” because I know and the students know that anything is possible.