Educators act ethically and maintain the integrity, credibility and reputation of the profession.
Educators must be good role models in and out of the classroom. Our professionalism and reputation is under scrutiny whenever we interact socially in public. When I meet my kindergarten students shopping, I have suddenly become famous. The kids rush to me like the paparazzi or scream across the aisle, “Mr. Georges! Mr. Georges! Hi!” It seems my anonymity will soon be a thing of the past.
Being part of the community is part of the job, and we need to work with parents and other members of the community to foster a positive learning environment for the students. At the start of my final practicum, I wrote a letter to give out parents to open a channel for communication and introduce myself to them. During the afternoon pick up times, I would also chat with the parents, debriefing them on their child’s performance that day. The following is my redacted introduction letter, which you may find as a useful template: