Our Teacher Credo

With input from teachers, we have identified a set of actions and behaviors that directly correlate to student success. We invite all educators to use this credo to guide the continuous improvement of their instructional practice.

Being an effective teacher means:

1. Accepting no excuses when moving students along the path of learning, believing all children can succeed.

2. Taking responsibility for student growth, advancing students one grade level or more per year.

3. Mastering pedagogy as well as content knowledge to ensure student engagement with the subject matter. 

4. Continuously developing one’s own skills and professionalism through active self-assessment and the integration of principal, peer, and parental feedback.

5. Leading the classroom with purposeful planning, objective-driven lessons, and sound management techniques providing encouragement, discipline, and praise as warranted.

6. Engaging students at all levels of ability rather than teaching to the middle, and readily identifying those levels in students.

7. Building strong relationships with students that cultivate them socially as well as intellectually.

8. Working collaboratively with other teachers and administrators to create a culture of excellence and active encouragement – align lesson plans, fill gaps in student learning, and address issues that impede academic success.

9. Strengthening trust-based relationships with families to help bridge a student’s home and school life.

Take the Pledge and Join the Movement at www.iteachiam.com.