“Educators value the success of all students. Educators care for students and act in their best interests.”
This standard means we will do our best to educate students, protect them from harm, and encourage all their accomplishments. The best interest is their well-being and their academic success.
To me, it means that:
- We will provide a listening ear but still towards growth and education.
- We are not their friends, but their educators. This comes with the responsibility of connection but also role modelling.
- Our ultimate goal is always to encourage them to build a foundation, provide them with the tools, and help them know how to reach their furthest potential later.
- A teacher encourages them towards leadership, sports, arts, science, literature, and apprenticeships.
- Students can have agency while we oversee their growth and help them succeed when they need help.
- We provide a safe space for them to make mistakes that can then help them understand how to gather themselves and learn from their mistakes to do better next time.
Among many other things, one can say that teachers are like the “bird” that tells the little bird how flying works, makes them test it, encourages them to explore it and makes sure they are proficient at flying before their parents throws them out of the nest.
