Sarah Engström, Outdoor and Environmental Educator
K-8 Teacher Certified
ALASKA STATE TEACHING STANDARDS
Evidence supporting my ability as a teacher to adhere to Alaskan Teaching Standards
Standard 8: Professionalism
A beginning teacher participates in and contributes to the teaching profession
Rationale
Artifact
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Standard
8B. Committing to continuous professional growth by
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setting professional goals based on identified strengths, weaknesses, and feedback from colleagues, supervisors, administrators, mentors, and other professionals;
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reflecting upon the teacher’s own teaching practices including progress towards goals; and
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pursuing certification advancement, professional organization affiliation, district inservices, or other professional development opportunities;
8E. Considering feedback from colleagues, supervisors, administrators, mentors, and other professionals.
8C. Working cooperatively with colleagues, supervisors, administrators, mentors, and other professionals.
8D. Demonstrating compliance with the federal, state, district, and school laws, regulations, policies, procedures and schedules (e.g., FERPA, IDEA, ESEA, test security, treatment of students);
To prove my ability to meet Standard 8C I participated in an initiative in the Masters of Science in Outdoor and Environmental Education program at Alaska Pacific University to create a collaborative document discussing and defining outdoor and environmental education, as it relates to the larger field of education. This artifact is a link to that work, on the university webpage. To write and publish "Becoming Literate in the Language of Outdoor and Environmental Education" required a great deal of cooperation between myself and a variety of professors, school administrators, and other professionals.
Over the course of my studies, I have participated in several peer review sessions, which proves my ability to attain standard 8B and 8E.
I have both received feedback on my own teaching performance and to offer suggestions and praise to my colleagues.
This Artifact shows my ability to give feedback on strengths and weaknesses in teaching to my colleagues, which is an important part of professional development for both parties. Giving and receiving feedback graciously is an important part of growth in any profession, but is especially important to those pursuing certification avancement. One of my own goals as a teacher is to be able to better reflect on my own teaching, through the review of my colleagues teaching practices.
This artifact demonstrates my ability to meet standard 8A because my actions described by my host teacher are in line with the Code of Ethics. This document states that educators need to be professionals, and respect the dignity of students and the work environment. Likewise, educators are the face of education to the public, so dressing professionally and being flexible when schedules change is an important part of complying with the code of ethics.
I try at all time to conduct my actions in an ethical matter, and my approach to teaching is no different.
In many ways acting with "moral turpitude" as it is defined in the code of ethics is even more important for teachers than any other sector of the population. For it is teachers that give the models of behavior for future citizens of the planet.
Standard 8D was not met at midpoint portfolio time because student teaching had not yet occurred.
"Sarah interacted positively with the students demonstrating that she values and respects each student. Her praise was specific and was directed toward the students’ response. As minor disruptions occurred, Sarah would correct in such a manner as to guard the students’ dignity maintaining the flow of the lesson. Sarah was very professional and considerate of the school environment. At times when schedules were not adhered to because things seem to happen; Sarah was accommodating. She found opportunities to work with students her first day here when her host teacher was diverted to a district meeting. She was always punctual and prepared."
-Dr. Polly Rowell, Host Teacher
Meadow Lakes Elementary
8A. Complying with 20 AAC 10.020 (code of ethics and teaching standards) and explain how it impacts decision-making.
FINAL PORTFOLIO ARTIFACTS AND RATIONALES
MIDPOINT PORTFOLIO ARTIFACTS AND RATIONALES
8A. Complying with 20 AAC 10.020 (code of ethics and teaching standards) and explain how it impacts decision-making.
8B. Committing to continuous professional growth by
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setting professional goals based on identified strengths, weaknesses, and feedback from colleagues, supervisors, administrators, mentors, and other professionals;
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reflecting upon the teacher’s own teaching practices including progress towards goals; and
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pursuing certification advancement, professional organization affiliation, district inservices, or other professional development opportunities;
8C. Working cooperatively with colleagues, supervisors, administrators, mentors, and other professionals.
8D. Demonstrating compliance with the federal, state, district, and school laws, regulations, policies, procedures and schedules (e.g., FERPA, IDEA, ESEA, test security, treatment of students);
8E. Considering feedback from colleagues, supervisors, administrators, mentors, and other professionals.
This artifact demonstrates my ability to meet standard 8A because in it I do an indepth anaylsis of certain potential situations that could arise in the life of a teacher, and compare them to the Code of Ethics. This document states that educators need to be professionals, and respect the dignity of students and the work environment in order to best serve the profession of education.
This artifact demonstrates my ability to meet standard 8B because in accordance with the Code of Ethics I have attained all necessary documents and scores required by the State of Alaska to obtain a teaching certificate. I am also simultaneously pursuing a Masters of Science in Outdoor and Environmental Education.
This artifact demonstrates my ability to meet standard 8C because I describe some of the many ways that I interacted with the PJMS Community and collaborated with other teachers in the building. I worked at the Family Taco Night, Judged/Chaperoned a Science Olympiad field trip, and even ran part of a staff meeting in February. The assistant principal observed me teaching using Plicker Technology, and asked me to teach the entire staff how to use them.
This artifact demonstrates my ability to meet standard 8D because demonstrating compliance with federal, state, district, and school laws, as outlined in the Code of Ethics, are crucial elements of educators' duty to fulfil obligations to students, the public, and the education profession. Statewide testing is an important data collection tool to help meet the needs of all of these elements.
This artifact demonstrates my ability to meet standard 8E because I found the comments of both my host teacher and my supervisor to be both helpful and inspiring. I took to heart their recommendations and made many changes in the way that I taught and thought about lessons and behavior management. I firmly believe that feedback is a crucial part of growth, and that I think that my ability to take constructive criticism and adapt is one of my strengths.
During the course of my clinical internship, I had the opportunity to observe and participate in AMP testing, before it was cancelled statewide, as well as MAP testing. With these tests, I did all in my power to ensure that students were prepared with all of the information they needed to take these tests, without directly aiding them in any way with content. During the social responsibility class at PJMS "Moose Call" I showed videos to students explaining the myriad tools available to aid test takers. I explained in depth how these tests were organized, and encouraged all students to make certain that their test efforts matched their best abilities and knowledge.
I also followed all staff directives within PJMS as well as federal regulations.