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Belief 1:
Our students are growing up in the 21st Century, and the curriculum which we are using to educate them should be reflective of that, both in content and delivery.

Belief 2:
I feel strongly that our curriculum should also promote global literacy.  I became aware of global literacy in Heidi Hayes Jacobs’ book, Curriculum 21. Global literacy means being aware of other cultures and regions, having the skills to communicate with other languages, recognizing economic and global issues, and showing values of respect for other cultures. The truth is, global literacy applies to everyone-- from those making multi-million dollar deals with international companies to those in the blue collar industry working next to someone who speaks a different language. Global literacy can help any of our students succeed, no matter what they do when they leave our building.

Belief 3:
Additionally, incorporating technology in effective ways that supplements and enhances students' learning experiences not only makes learning more meaningful and relevant for students, but also helps them build 21st Century skills which they will need to be successful in a 21st Century world.

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Belief 1:
Instruction should be data-driven. We need to know where our students are at now, where we want them to go, and we need to track which stops they’re making on their journey to get there.

Belief 2:
I feel that it is essential to include a variety of teaching methods in daily instruction. Changing up the instructional strategies gives our different learning types different ways to shine.

Belief 3:
Instruction should be interactive and experiential. Mark Van Doren, writer, poet, scholar, and professor of English at Columbia University, said “The art of teaching is the act of assisting discovery." Students are going to learn the best when they get in, get their hands dirty, and figure it out for themselves.

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Belief 1:
Students excel in different ways. While some students are avid readers, others prefer to write or draw pictures. Still, other students  prefer to create. I believe assessments should reflect those varieties of skills.

Belief 2:
Formative assessments are our key to making daily decisions in our instruction. We must constantly and consistently assess student learning in order to guide our instruction.

Belief 3:
We must USE our data from assessments to make decisions about student learning and progress! We can assess, assess, assess, but if we do not put that information to use, what were we really assessing for?

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Educational Beliefs- Meeting the Needs of Students

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Educational Beliefs- Meeting the Needs of Students

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Belief 1:
We must focus on our students' strengths! Let's gear our instruction toward different learning styles and consider academic, emotional, physical and mental development when grouping students.

Belief 2:
Meeting student needs requires time to COLLABORATE. As educators, we must find time to have meaningful conversations about student learning and we must do so with a growth mindset. There is always room to improve and always more we can be doing.

Belief 3:
ALL students can succeed. This may look different from student to student, but it is each student's tailored version of success that matters. Success means making progress, and as long as students are making progress, they are being successful.

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Belief 1:
Students make bad choices. It's inevitable. They're learning, they're growing, they're completely confused, and they're frustrated. While it's unlikely that they calmly voice their  frustrations during the confusing times of middle school and high school (especially middle school!), it is highly likely that their actions and decisions will reflect that confusion. Again, students make bad choices. They are not bad people.

Belief 2:
Consistency is key. Students need to know what to expect. Their brains do not fully understand the repercussions of their actions if they do not have consistency with expectations. On that note, we must also hold our students to high standards.

Belief 3:
While consistency is important, it is also important to note that being fair does not necessarily mean being equal. Fair treatment means giving each student what they need in order to be successful.

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It is my firm belief that n order to be effective educators, we must adopt a growth mindset. Adapting and truly living with a growth mindset, especially in our professional lives, enables us to see opportunities and open doors for our students.

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Involving family members is one of the keys to success for a student and his or her education! I am determined to help close the gap from school to home by involving families in their child's education, and inviting them and community members into the school so they can see our vision! In the past, I have organized events such as, "Family Fitness Night," "Family Tech and Game Night," and for the past two years have held fall festivals reaching almost 200 in attendance, which is no easy feat in inner-city Topeka. We invite all members of the community to these family engagement events to laugh and learn together.

As educators, our students' families are our biggest line of support to helping our students achieve their goals. As an administrator, family involvement is a priority for me. I want to know what hopes and dreams family members have for their students, and I have found that simply asking parents/guardians to tell me about their child tends to shine an entirely new light on the student. Together with families, I truly believe we can provide the best possible education and support to our students.

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My experiences have shown me that without relationships, I will fail in my attempts to get through to a student, provide help to a student, or even have a meaningful conversation with a student. Every single kid needs someone who will listen to them, support them, guide them, and help them grow.

As an administrator, it is my first priority to build relationships with both students and staff.

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Rita Pierson: Every kid needs a champion | TED