Asabi A. Dean, Ph.D.,
LPC, NCC

Overview

Teaching happens in a variety of contexts using a variety of resources, both formal and informal. One can teach another a lesson while in the process of reaching for and focusing on another or separate goal. Teaching is the most sustainable resource across the globe. I believe that for civilization to continue to progress each generation must pass on the beliefs and the customs, as well as the learned experiences and failures, to the next generation. It is the responsibility of each generation to teach the next generation and for all individuals to bring along as many others to share their knowledge with. We do this passing on of experiences through many exchanges but such as parenting, mentoring, modeling, and teaching to name a few. The responsibility of teaching doesn’t fall solely on those that are professionally trained to teach however is the responsibility of the masses to the degree that they can knowingly pass on knowledge from one to another. However, those that are trained to teach do owe those that are signed up to learn, from them, a service that should be provided to the best of their abilities every time. The best teachers are those that have been trained to, intentionally, teach and these individuals foster a passion, in their students, to go beyond their “training” to find more and better ways to reach every student knowing that not all students are alike in their thinking &/or their learning. Understanding that we must meet students where they are academically and personally makes teaching a very multifaceted occupation or task to attain and one to be taken on by the driven, focused, passionate, and those that act with discipline and integrity. Teaching is a trust, a responsibility, an honor, and a privilege and should be treated and approached as such with all. For instance, I would want to evaluate and have my teaching evaluated constantly and consistently, by my peers and mentors, to keep me grounded or from reaching a place of aloofness in regard to my learned ability with my subject matter. This will help me to remember the privileged position I hold in our society and to see how even my area of expertise can be better put together for the most efficient and effective learning of my students. Given that learning happens in different ways, it is the responsibility of the teacher to have a toolbox of sorts in which to teach so that should one format or systematic way of teaching does not work for everyone, then she or he could pull another from their toolbox and make another attempt to reach those, not reached yet, again. When students leave my classroom, it is my hope that they walk out with knowledge, insight, and the desire and know-how to build on the information that they received in my class. It is also my hope that my students leave with confidence and the desire to pass their knowledge on to others.