Developiing a Mission Statement

Developing a Mission Statement
Introduction
A mission statement helps educators to improve their purpose and assist them to be successful. It will help the educators to keep on track and evade losing their focus of what they are actually about. According to Canter in his presentation Classic High Performing Teacher, “A mission statement is a single guide throughout your teaching career. It is your blue print, your constitution which you use to evaluate your work each day.” A mission statement defines your purpose and helps you achieve your goals. It also informs others of your purpose. As an educator my intention is to work tremendously to be the most effective teacher I can be, thus I have constructed this mission statement.
Mission Statement
I share the same belief as Junia Yearwood in Nieto’s book, What keeps a teacher going? that teaching is like gardening (2003).
As an educator my aim is to give children the tools which they will need to build their own garden of knowledge. It is my intention to provide the opportunity for regular growth and learning with every child. Each student will be guided on how to develop the relevant skills needed to be well rounded citizens in this 21st century. I will seek to build a good relationship with my coworkers, my supervisors and students. I will endeavor to be honest, loving thoughtful and humble. I will aim to encourage my students to be successful in whatever they do; never sees themselves as a failure or they cannot overcome difficult task, but strive to achieve the highest what they do.
According to Frank in, “Becoming a Reflective Teacher” an educator needs to develop a plan of action; maintain and monitor the plan; and evaluate the plan and take action (1999). He further encourages educators to be reflective, where we reflect on our own and others’ teaching. My goal is to create a secure environment, stimulating atmosphere where children can grow and mature emotionally, socially and intellectually. Foster great lessons by using the necessary technology and the best instructions that will meet the needs of all my learners.
My mission statement will be bolded printed and placed on the wall in front of my class, so that it can be used as a constant reminder of my goals or what I would like to accomplish as a teacher with my learners. I will also adopt Frank’s (1999) idea of keeping a copy in my lesson plan book, so that I will plan lessons that are exciting, fun and of course reflecting my mission statement. This mission statement will help me to plan activities that will assist my learners to grow in their own way. Instead of telling them what to do, I will allow them to investigate and find out for themselves. In doing this they will be building their own garden of knowledge.
As an educator my desire is to prepare my students for the future. In order to do this I will use the appropriate technology. Currently, they attend computer class once per week. In my classes with them, I intend to use my laptop, plus the class computer to develop interactive power point presentations. This will help the learners to attain the passion they need for a life- long learning in this 21st century. With my mission statement in mind I will raise the bar of expectations for my learners’ academic performance. For instance students will be expected to receive a 75% on given work (test, quizzes, homework etc). Individuals, who fall below expectation, will be given the chance to resubmit their work. Students will be encouraged to work to his or her full potential.
During my difficult times I will look at my mission statement as a reminder of my purpose as an educator and why I became a teacher twelve (12) years ago. I will think about the love that teacher Stephen Gordon observed in Neito’s book, What keeps Teachers Going? “That preceding everything else in teaching is, a fundamental belief in the lives and minds of students. Love, then, is not simply a sentimental conferring of emotion. Rather, it is a combination of trust, confidence, and faith in students and a deep admiration for their strengths.” In time of frustration, drama or just feeling like giving up, my mission statement will be there as a constant reminder, of the love I have for this profession, the satisfaction I get when a learner grasp a concept, it will help me deal with all the stress I know I am going to encounter during my teaching years. I plan to memorize it, so that I can always say it out loud or in my mind during tough times.
Conclusion
Neito states that, “What teachers do or say may stay with their student for a lifetime” (2003). My mission statement is a reflection of my beliefs and philosophy. Therefore, I will use it as a guide to reflect on, in my present and future endeavor as an educator. I will continue to let my mission statement be my road map in order to become knowledgeable of the uniqueness of each child in my class and to help them to identify that uniqueness and self worth. I will strive to adopt the beliefs that, every child can learn, every child must learn.

References
Frank, P. (1999). Becoming a reflective teacher: Reflective Teaching, Make It Your Mission.
ASCD Catalyst. Retrieved July 8, 2013, from http://www.ascd.org/publications/newsletters/education-update/aug99/vol41/num05/Reflective-teaching.aspx Lee canter. The Power of Mission," High-Performing Teacher video series

Sonia Neito. (2003). What keeps Teachers Going?. Laureate Education, INC

References: Frank, P. (1999). Becoming a reflective teacher: Reflective Teaching, Make It Your Mission. ASCD Catalyst. Retrieved July 8, 2013, from http://www.ascd.org/publications/newsletters/education-update/aug99/vol41/num05/Reflective-teaching.aspx Lee canter. The Power of Mission," High-Performing Teacher video series Sonia Neito. (2003). What keeps Teachers Going?. Laureate Education, INC