I
believe
that
I
have
been
afforded
a
unique
opportunity
to
assist
children
in
 becoming the
next
generation
of
leaders,
workers,
mothers,
and
fathers.

My
background
 has prepared
me
well
to
meet
the
challenges
and
enjoy
the
benefits
of
life
in
the
classroom.
In
the
21st
century,
I
believe
all
children
deserve
an
equal
chance
to
learn
without
 being prejudged.

Regardless
of
their
ability
level,
they
should
be
treated
with
respect,
as
 valuable human
beings.

By
the
same
token,
the
21st
century
teacher
owes
it
to
their
 students to
expect
a
high
standard
of
effort.

The
best
teachers
in
this
century
will
instill
a
 love of
learning
in
students,
so
that
they
will
choose
to
learn
on
their
own.

Class
material
 should be
made
relevant
to
the
world
beyond
the
classroom. Teachers
can
help
their
 students experience
a
‘great
awakening,’
as
I
did,
to
the
world
around
them.

They
can
 accomplish this
by
connecting
classroom
material
to
places
and
events
in
the
community.
I
believe
in
the
21st
century
technology
should
serve
as
a
means
to
enhance
learning,
 not as
the
end
itself.

Computers
and
the
Internet
have
opened
a
window
to
the
world
in
 classrooms. When
used
properly,
technology
can
add
tremendously
to
the
learning
 experience. When
overused,
however,
it
can
distract
from
the
value
of
the
message
itself.
I
believe
that
21st
century
teachers
should
be
held
to
stringent
standards,
but
that
 their compensation
should
reflect
those
higher
standards.

Our
children
deserve
to
be
 taught by
the
best
and
brightest,
not
by
people
in
it
for
the
benefits
alone.

Next
to
parents,
 teachers are
the
single
most
important
element
in
the
educational
system.

We
need
to
 reward the
good
ones
and
encourage
the
poor
ones
to
seek
other
opportunities