Teaching Philosophy

As an educator, I seek to empower my students, encouraging them to pursue their passions and curiosities as well as to discover new passions, greater personal understanding, and new ways of thinking. I do not view education as a means to an end, but as part of a continuous process of personal growth and self-improvement. My experiences working with high school and undergraduate students have taught me the significance of cultivating authentic connections with students and recognizing them as whole people with individual needs, purposes, strengths, and limitations. For me, this is at the heart of equity and inclusive education. I endeavor to create a classroom community that provides a safe space for sharing ideas, where students feel comfortable and confident contributing to class discourse, and where multiple viewpoints are valued as integral to learning.

At the heart of good teaching lies knowing your students, the willingness to respond to their individual needs, and the desire to support them through challenges. I recognize that each class is a unique constellation of individuals and work to understand my students’ evolving needs and interests. As a high school teacher of almost ten years, my efforts to learn about my students and to support them as individuals allowed me to cultivate harmonious and productive student-teacher relationships. Early in my career, I focused on content and curriculum, but I found that taking the time to develop rapport and to establish a sense of belonging and connection within a class improves class discussions and encourages students to ask questions and take risks.

A meaningful education is a lasting education. Students engage and retain more when classes are relevant to their lives and goals and when their need for autonomy is supported. I accomplish this by including students in classroom decision-making and encouraging students to personalize their learning with authentic projects and activities that apply to their lives.

The educational context is constantly evolving. In order to remain relevant and effective in the classroom, educators must demonstrate flexibility and seek out innovative practices. Effective teaching means actively engaging learners in dynamic discussions, creating opportunities for students to apply their learning in the real world, allowing students to make choices and individualize their learning, providing specific and timely feedback, permitting students to revise and improve their work, and establishing a caring and consistent presence in the course.

I feel most at home within a smaller, learner-centered community. What I enjoy most about teaching are the connections that I make with my students, the opportunities to learn from them and to experience new perspectives, and the ability to share my passion for psychology in the hope that I might spark a similar passion in them. Teaching psychology is deeply fulfilling--and fun! I am inspired by the possibility of helping my students to improve their self-understanding, wellbeing, relationships, and sense of empathy.

As I strive toward excellence in my teaching, I endeavor to develop my craft through reflective practice, careful consideration of current research, openness to change, pursuit of innovation, and recognition that as teachers, we are always learning, too. With its emphasis on need satisfaction, motivation, and brain development, my research informs my teaching philosophy and practice. I implement research-backed ideas for nurturing students’ inner motivational needs, including identifying their interests, providing opportunities for their preferences to guide their learning, and incorporating appropriate challenge in activities, discussions, and assignments. I am empathetic to students’ emotional needs and mindful of practices that support memory and cognitive processes as a means to optimize learning. I explore methods to incorporate technology as a way to authentically engage and connect with students, to direct their development as critical consumers, and to extend learning beyond the classroom to the real world.

Full Teaching Philosophy and other materials available upon request.