Statement of Educational Philosophy

My Educational Philosophy can be summarized into four profound teachings which I have learned over the course of my career, each from a different mentor, teacher, and unassuming authority.

I was exposed to my first lesson early in my career, and which has stayed with me for almost three decades of classroom instruction and school administration; “Rigor is an important thing, but not the only thing!” There is no question that our children need to be challenged intellectually and academically while attending school. Yet, we must always keep in mind that these same children are human beings, with physical, social, emotional, and spiritual needs. Challenging a child’s intellectual growth is critical to the mission and vision of any successful school. However, this objective cannot, and should not come at the expense of any child’s potential destiny.

My second axiom is that “Knowledge is knowing the information, but wisdom is knowing what to do with the information.” When I first started my career in education, schools were responsible for passing along the knowledge that could not be otherwise accessed. “Going to school” was synonymous with “I am going to study my disciplines and learn the information that I cannot get elsewhere.” Today, however, nothing could be farther from this fallacy. If schools were solely about the passing of information from the teachers to the students, teachers would be an unnecessary and very outdated instructional tool. Google could replace them with great ease and provide endless access to an eternity of information. Today, teachers “co-parent” the children in their classrooms. They are the role models, the caretakers, the disciplinarians, and the mentors for our children. Our teachers are the guides who educate our students on how to use the information they learn and turn it into the wisdom they seek.

Next, we have the maxim, “Most people do not listen with the intent to understand; they listen with the intent to reply.” Stephen Covey was never a formal teacher of mine, and I never attended any of his conferences, speaking engagements, or seminars. However, I can honestly say that until I heard his aforementioned quote, I do not believe that I ever truly understood what it meant to “listen”. Although this truism is very personal, and a relative new addition to my educational toolkit, it is a lesson that has served me well in tapping into the strengths of those around me… especially my students. To understand what others are saying, when they are saying it, and in what context it is being said, is a leadership asset like no other. The best collaborative experiences come from teams seeking a common vision who can hear one another’s perspectives.

My final dictum is one that I am still trying to figure out, and am sure will continue for the foreseeable future… “Technology can be our greatest asset and simultaneously our greatest disadvantage!” We live in a time when faster is perceived to be better, and yet we know patience has value beyond the obvious. Technology has provided the ability to personalize everything, consequently making us sacrifice many of the “commonalities” that bring us together as a community. Social media offers incredible opportunities for social exchange, and yet we have some of the loneliest youth of recent memory. Technology has advanced our society throughout history but has also brought some of the greatest dangers ever experienced. If we are to teach our children about technology, then we must do so in the context of balance, patience, and an appreciation for a greater good.