The Kind of Teacher I Want to Be

Some things change, some things stay the same. The National Education Association (NEA) adopted a code of ethics in 1975 (Strike & Soltis 2009, p. viii). While this code still upholds many concerns that educators face today, it is important to make sure that a code of ethics is a breathing document. It must adapt and change with the changing of time. Strike and Soltis (2009) reference the code of ethics quite regularly throughout the entire book. It is first introduced in full at the beginning of the book. Looking over the code, it is important to remember that much has changed since it was first adopted. While all of the code still applies, it is necessary to add to the code to make it acceptable for the twenty-first century.

I believe the teacher that has the most impact on me was Mrs. Green. Mrs. Green taught public speaking and it was my hardest class. I had to push myself outside of my comfort zone and talk in front of a room full of people at least once a week. I hated talking in front of people. This class helped me to develop my ability to speak in front of people and become comfortable with who I am. I was not the kind of person who likes to have everyone watch me. For me to have 20 people actively listening to my ideas made me more than nervous, I was terrified of making mistakes. It was through this class that I learned that even if I made mistakes during my speech, the only one who knew that was me.

The Code of Ethics for Educators is a group of standards that all educators, in the state of Georgia, must follow. These standard are put in place to ensure the well-being and safety of students, educators, and parents. As I reviewed the Code of Ethics for Educators, there were four ethical standards that I found most important; they are: Georgia Code of Ethics for Educators Standard 2: Conduct with Students, Georgia Code of Ethics for Educators Standard 3: Alcohol or Drugs, Georgia Code of Ethics for Educators Standard 6: Remunerative Conduct, and Georgia Code of Ethics for Educators Standard 7: Confidential Information. In this paper I will review each of these standards, and tell you why I found them important.

This semester, I was a teacher assistant for Dr. Finley’s psychology 101 course. The experience to TA has been a really valuable, and rewarding experience. I’ve definitely gotten the chance to develop skills in the professional context. The variety of tasks and the workload pace was very enjoyable for me. The opportunity of being a TA at times proved to be challenging but I find ways to successfully manage some of these adversities. Overall, there’s a plethora of things that I can take away, and I plan to utilize some of these tactics into my future goals and career aspirations.

Wiest took the time to listen to my troubles and work with me outside of class. She even invited me to come drink tea in her office if I needed a break or was not feeling well. But more importantly, she helped me put everything into perspective and I made some tough decisions. I cut down on my work hours, took a few months off from orchestra, took less volunteer opportunities, and learned to prioritize my responsibilities. Mrs. Wiest also helped me with my work when I was falling behind and let me take her finals at different times to balance my work load. I panicked when everything got difficult, but she supported me. If any teacher has made an impact on me during my academic career, it was certainly Mrs. Wiest. She goes above and beyond for her students and wants everyone to succeed. With her help, I was able to succeed during a very rough

The National Education Association Code of Ethics (1975) begins with a preamble that defines not only what constitutes an educator, but also to what the educator should aspire. The code itself is built

A high school teacher that has impacted my life is my 9th grade Geometry teacher, Mrs. Scully. Mrs. Scully has impacted my life from the very beginning. She has always been very caring and fun to be around. She is probably one of the most unique people in my life. She has always wanted me to do my best, and worked hard for me to understand the course. I was very troubled in mathematics, but the first time I received an 80 on a test in her class was the happiest moment for me. She is dedicated and she cares about you. She wants you to do good. I only had her for that year, but I still continue to see her. Sophomore and Junior year I would also use my tutoring time to be with her. I am now a senior class officer and she is our leader. She puts together senior activities and the officers help her. She influences me to be the very best person I can be. I see how she has these stylish cars and is overall happy with her life and committed to what she does. It’s inspiring and I can only wish to become as happy and successful as she is. She is a wonderful

My second grade teacher Mrs. Balzer was one of my favorite teachers through elementary school. Everyday after school while I was in her class waiting on the bus she would say "Dillon would you like a cheese stick?" Though cheese sticks was not my favorite snack and I didn't want to sound rude so i would say "yes ma'am." Learning was starting to change through grades there were more books, more homework and more classes. Another favorite teacher of mine was Mr. Britton. He was always there helping me struggling on an assignment, and always asked me to go run papers to them office for him or go make

Everyone has had that one teacher who inspired them, and who made coming to school every day worthwhile. My teacher was my 4th grade teacher, Mrs. Eardly. She went above and beyond to be a good teacher to me, went out of her way to make sure I was taken care of, and inspired me to be a better person.

The teachers, they can point to and say, “That individual assisted me in becoming the person I am today.” For me, I have one special person that I can do that to. This individual is not only my favorite teacher, but very influential in my life. Katie Josef, my Ed Tech teacher, has shown me what true passion for the field of education looks like. I witness her upbeat personality, and get to experience the kindness she exuberates to her students on a daily basis. She drives the individuals in her class to succeed to their best ability. She inspires me to become an outstanding teacher in whatever field I choose to pursue. Mrs. J has shown me what a teacher that cares for her students truly looks like. With the love and support she shows, it is no mystery how she creates unbreakable bonds with her students- bonds that last for many years, even after a student's graduation. I desire to create these same bonds with my future

Teachers are very visible members of society and often find themselves under scrutiny. (Neumark, 2014). An individual entering the teaching profession should do so with a degree of professionalism and respect in which to regulate their own behaviour. However, there will always be times when circumstance tests teachers’ professionalism. This is when the code of ethics should be regarded.

Ideally, when I graduate, I would like to enter the credential program at Cal Poly Pomona. As an English Education major, I feel like this is the next logical step for me as I seek to move forward on my path of becoming a teacher. The opportunities that await me in the credential program truly excite me because I have always found my studies of English Education to be very rewarding and purposeful. I have found this to be especially true now because I am currently in the process of conducting observation hours at local high schools in Pomona as part of my English Education curriculum. When I am in the classroom, I immediately feel a sense of joy, purpose, and productivity. Outside of the classroom, I do have experience teaching as a leader for a club on campus; I am a Woman’s Bible Study Leader for Cal Poly Cru and I have found this experience of teaching college students to be the most exciting, challenging, and rewarding experience I have ever had the pleasure of being a part of. It can become overwhelming as doubts and deadlines tend to sneak in on me from time to time, but I know that being a teacher is worth every ounce of pressure because of the positive impact that a teacher has the ability to make on a student. There is an incredible statistic that states that “On average a teacher affects 3,000 children over the course of their career” (Bickley). This opportunity stirs my heart like nothing else because when I was in high school, I had an incredible teacher named

The Code of Ethics is absolutely essential for every education major to have a strong understanding of. This code presents the main rules and regulations that apply to future teachers to ensure the best behavior and actions possible, inside and outside of the classroom. It is a clear guide of unethical activities that teachers may never indulge in without risking suspension, revocation, denial, or reprimand of any teaching certificate. The code is broken down into eleven different standards which are easy for educators to understand and abide by.

Teachers should follow and refer to a code of ethics to help teach in the most appropriate and ethical way; as well as a guide to help deal with dilemmas.

Under this code of Ethics, we believe that as an educator you have a duty to provide an environment that nurtures and supports the learning of each and every student.