Bryant Cross

   As a teacher, one of the facets of my job that is most important to me is knowing that my students and their guardians understand exactly why I have chosen a teaching career, as well as the desires and expectations that I have for my classroom. The first reason that I have made the decision to become a teacher lies within my passion for everything that secondary school CAN stand for. The potential for the middle and high school years of a student's life are of the upmost importance in shaping who they become. My desire for the classroom is that it would serve as a place of not only educational growth, but character growth as well. I believe that learning should not be limited to a select number of subjects, but be attributed to life as a whole. We live in a world that contains a great deal of hate, injustice, and prejudice, and I would like for my classroom to be a place where this is no longer the case - a place where students learn to respect and honor every individual that they come in contact with. I believe that English and history can be related to an unlimited number of social and cultural topics that I wish to shine a light upon. 

   I believe that the topics of English and history serve as extremely influential life-learning experiences for students and teachers. History allows for us to explore the past, growing through our mistakes and expanding upon our successes and innovativeness. English provides space to reflect, understand, and create. Language arts are incorporated into nearly every aspect of our society today. Therefore, I believe that what is learned in my classroom will be of immense significance in terms of learning for the present and future, regardless of what a student's aspirations may be. These are the subjects that I teach because they are what I am passionate about. I feel that it would be unfair for me to ask students to give effort and energy if I am not willing to put in that same energy and exemplify passion and understanding of what I am teaching them. 

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   Students are at the heart of my desire to teach. My number one hope for my teaching career is that I would be a positive and uplifting influence to every one of my students, and encourage and assist each one of them to achieve whatever it is that they pursue. I understand that every human being was made to be unique. Therefore, I am aware that each student that walks through my door will learn differently than the next. I will strive to do my absolute best to teach every student in a way that is effective for their individual learning. However, you must also understand that this may often be an impossible task, in reality. But, I will meet each and every student where they are, understanding that every student has differences in knowledge, understanding, and ability that they take into my classroom. I long to see individual work above all else. If there are every any concerns regarding the learning and development of any of my students, please contact me so that we may work out a solution. My desire is that every one of my students will reach their full potential every given year, and I hope that my classroom is a relevant piece in making this outcome occur.