My classroom vision is where everyone feels safe. Safe to be themselves, safe to express themselves, safe to discover more of themselves. My three values are gratitude, empathy, and belonging. Gratitude is what grounds us when we go through adversity and struggles. It allows us to look at a bigger picture when we feel stuck with what’s going on right in front of us. Empathy is not just looking at the world from someone else’s shoes but taking on what they have been through, how they see the world, and what they value and standing in their situation. Belonging ensures that everyone in a community has a place and feels comfortable to be there, to share, and to grow. 

We make this a safe place by listening to one another, by learning from one another, by building each other up. We all know what it feels like to be known by someone, understood by someone, and loved by someone or we know how we wish to be treated. Everyone wants somebody to believe in them, somebody to tell them to chase all their dreams, somebody to just see them for who they are. That’s what we are here for. 

What I have learned about being in the classroom is that it takes time and effort to build the environment we want and it also takes everyone doing their part. It takes everyone calling each other out (respectfully) and holding each other accountable. It takes us figuring out how to make each other feel loved so that we can all grow together.