My personal philosophy is that there is a place in STEM for everyone who wants one, the key is helping them find it and preparing them to succeed.

Equal Educational Opportunity

            I believe that as an instructor it is my responsibility to ensure every student has access to opportunities to advance and succeed academically regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, ability, or sexual orientation. I intend to work to challenge policies and practices that hinder minority and underrepresented students’ success. Often students from underrepresented groups are discouraged from pursuing careers in STEM or made to believe they lack the skills necessary. I will work to challenge these beliefs and encourage students who wish to pursue STEM careers. I will also continue to work with outreach programs whose purpose is closing the gap in STEM majors and in advanced placement courses prior to college.

Intercultural Education

            Another important factor for me is assuring each student that they matter and will be treated fairly, regardless of cultural, racial, or ethnic background. I will work to teach students to value different cultures as well as their own. I believe it is our differences, not our similarities that allow us to make meaningful connections and value each other. I want my classroom to be a safe space where students feel they can express themselves and be comfortable with who they are. I believe when students focus less on ridiculing or being ridiculed by others based solely on their culture, race, gender, ethnicity, or sexual orientation they can focus on learning. In a classroom where I intend to use a lot of collaborative learning activities, respect for others will play a key role in the success of students and in creating a positive classroom environment.

Schooling of Exceptional Learners

            I feel that it is my responsibility to create a classroom environment that is inclusive. A student’s different abilities or needs should not hinder learning or their ability to succeed in my classroom. I will use activities that are flexible and can be tailored to accommodate a student’s specific needs.  I plan to introduce content in a variety of ways, visual, verbal, etc. to ensure students’ needs are met and they each have an opportunity to receive the lesson. Using collaborative assignments, students will learn to work with learners with different abilities which will help them with collaborative and cooperative team work in their careers. It is my aim that students leave the classroom with an understanding of how to work with others and how to ensure everyone is included and valued regardless of their needs. This will ensure everyone will have an opportunity to participate and learn while having their needs met.

Socio-economic Status

            As my intention is to increase the number of African Americans in STEM, areas of low socio-economic status are also important to me. Schools in low SES areas often have fewer resources, less local opportunities for advancement, and lower educational achievement. In these areas, I believe the biggest challenge will be overcoming the ideas students may have about their ability level and the likelihood of their success. I will work to help students understand that they are capable of pursuing STEM careers and that they can succeed academically. I believe it will be my responsibility to motivate these students through activities that expose them to STEM careers and equip them with the skills necessary for academic success.

STEM Education

            As the world becomes more dependent on technology, STEM careers can provide financial security to rising professionals. Educating these students in STEM disciplines and careers pre-college can help them make a more informed decision about their future. My goal is to decrease the number of students who shy away from STEM simply because they have not been exposed or feel they cannot be successful. The aim is not to push every student into STEM, but to empower the students who are interested.