Upon first contemplating the answer to this question, I found it difficult to answer because I feel that I am constantly changing; but as I consider the true answer, I realize that the most fundamental parts of me have remained the same.  Life has caused me to mature and gain the titles of woman, wife, mother, sister, and friend.  Long ago, when I was merely a little girl, there was one thing about me that is still true. I was always interested in learning. I was humble, but loved receiving awards for my achievements in school. Education was always a part of my life, and, as you can see, it still is. Somewhere in my experiences, I learned that wondering and questioning were good things to do. I believe this is the fundamental concept that has kept me interested in my education. I have found that having this attitude makes learning much more meaningful so I try to pass this inquisitive lifestyle onto my adolescent students- and to all children that I encounter.
    Although I have more than five years of teaching experience, I still find it difficult to describe what kind of teacher I am.  The major reason I furthered my education is because I struggled with the idea of being an effective teacher. I could not say that I was an effective Science teacher.  As I cringed at the thought of teaching Science, I realized that a middle-school teacher must be knowledgeable in the subjects she teaches. I was not. It was that simple. It is this same lack of confidence that has held me back from many leadership opportunities. As I learn more and more I feel my confidence building, and I know that this will impact who I am as a teacher and as a leader in my future.

This portfolio shows signs of my growth as a learner, teacher, and leader beginning with those words above. Since those words were written, I have had to  think about this question more formally when I was assigned the task of developing my professional philosophy. The first draft of this document just tells about my beliefs, but by the time I produced a  finished product I was able to support my beliefs with educational research. Link below to read them.