This was the single most important question any professor asked me during my teacher preparation. The assignment was to come up with some ideals I would like to live up to. I thought, “Why do I need a credo? I’m going to teach preschool.” Something about the twinkle in my professor’s eye told me this was an important assignment. This is what I came up with:

1. Nurture and empower students to take part in the creation of their lives and the world.

2. Encourage students’ curiosities, imagination, thinking, feeling, respect and care for themselves, others and the environment.

3. Recognize and nurture all talents and intelligences in order to meet my students’ developmental needs.

4. Ensure that my actions and teaching practices align with my credo.

5. Create a better education for all students.

Each year I would unpack my laminated credo from my desk box where it sat all summer and I would think, “You’re not living it.” I was sure I was achieving the first three, but, when I got to number four I was never sure and when I read five, I didn’t know where to start. I needed to take another step. The National Board Certification process was that step. Being an NBCT means that my actions and teaching practices do align with my credo. And, as a National Board Certified Teacher, I have finally begun to live the hardest part of my credo, the creation of better education for all students. I know there is a network of other professionals that believe creating a better education for every student starts in your classroom.

I unearthed this recently and decided I would post it here.
As I look at the nature of educational leadership and consider how I will define my role as a leader I am happy to know that I am still working on fulfilling my ideals and that I still don’t want to change them.

What is your credo? Please post a comment and let me know.