Goal #10:  Relationships

The beginning teacher fosters relationships with school colleagues, parents and educational partners in the larger community to support student learning and well-being.

I believe it is imperative for teachers to build relationships within the school and in the community.  Within the school, I built relationships with other teachers by becoming involved in school activities and participating in departmental meetings.  I was involved in all the meetings. 

In my experiences at both placements, I developed a rapport with school colleagues, students and parents.  I was very pleased with how receptive the students were with me.  On my last day, several students made me cards and even wrote me a letter of recommendation.  At Pleasant Lea Middle School, I was involved in the Parent Night.  I was able to meet the parents of the students I was going to be working with.  I sent a letter home with students explaining who I was and what I planned on doing while at PLMS.  Parents along with the faculty in the building were exceptionally helpful and supportive. 

At PLMS, I was able to participate in the Reading Across the Disciplines professional development workshop.  I learned about how to apply these methods to my content area.  This was also a great opportunity to meet other teachers in the building.  I also went to the Modern Language district meeting.  I met the different teachers of Modern Languages and helped to develop a PowerPoint for the district to use in celebration of Year of the Languages.

The Modern Language students at PLMS created a fundraiser after the Tsunami in South Asia.  Had it not been for the teachers and faculty, parents, and the community partners, then the students would not have been as successful as they were.  The students had made a goal of $1400.  After one week of hard work on all parts, we raised $1731.    

I am also a part of the Missouri National Education Association.  This association helps build a network of teachers within the state community and beyond.