Running head: SUPERVISION PLATFORM
Supervision Platform
Fanny Martinez
William Paterson University
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The ultimate purpose of supervision is to ensure the continuous improvement of
instruction. Any improvement to the quality of instruction will show positive impacts on the
quality of student learning. A supervisor is a chief, a mentor and a coach to teachers. A
supervisor needs to be knowledgeable and should encourage team work and collaboration among
teachers. Supervision is about reflection, mentoring and coaching. As a supervisor you are
responsible for assisting teachers in long-term professional development with a focus on
continuous improvement of instruction.
The ultimate purpose of education is to educate all students and provide them with equal
opportunities to succeed in life. My supervisor’s beliefs and values about the purpose of
education and instructional supervision are described as follows:
What is the purpose of schooling?
While we work to produce higher achievement scores, personal-social education is
crucial for the development of successful and productive citizens. Schools should be preparing
students with the necessary skills for them to take responsibility for their own learning and reach
their true potential to compete and interact in a global society. In addition to the academic
purposes of education, schools should promote spiritual, moral and cultural values, to develop
responsible, compassionate, and productive community members. Building a positive culture is
an essential component to support the school’s purpose and mission. Schools should be an
inclusive environment in which teachers want to continually improve. Schools need to ensure
teachers have all the tools and knowledge they need to constantly improve their practices. In
order for students to have the optimal conditions for success, teachers must be dedicated and
willing to work collaboratively with students and other teachers. School should work on
increasing students’ and teachers’ self-esteem. High self-esteem helps individuals to view
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themselves as capable and productive human beings and motivate them to work hard to succeed
in life. Perhaps high self-esteem can lead to high academic achievement.
What do you believe about the teaching and learning process?
Like other practitioners in the field, my philosophy of teaching is evolving and will
continue to do so over the years. I believe teachers’ primary responsibility is to provide students
with the skills, knowledge and experience necessary so that they can expand their personal
horizons and have the ability to be successful in their chosen careers and lives. Teaching can be
very challenging; however there are three core values that teachers and students need to keep in
mind in order to make schools a fun, peaceful and enjoyable place where students come to learn
and succeed. Respect, responsibility, and love for learning are those three core values. Respect
refers to respect for students, for teachers, to the school’s and others’ property, and yourself.
Responsibility refers to acting in a mature and thoughtful manner. It means fulfilling your
obligations as a student and teacher. Love of learning refers to a passion for learning new ideas
and improving ourselves.
Fostering a love for learning in students is very important to their future success. I
believe that students deserve respect just as any other person, and there must be a mutual respect
between teachers and students. Teachers should maintain high expectations for their students
and need to be sensitive to their background. I believe teachers should focus on learning, not
work. Teachers need to use a variety of strategies to ensure students are succeeding in class.
Teachers should serve as coaches to help students define their learning goals and provide
opportunities for ongoing self-evaluation and reflection. I believe students are most successful in
their learning process when they feel valued as individuals, supported, and motivated to learn.
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What do you value in educational practice?
In educational practice, I value teachers’ passion, motivation and enthusiasm. When
teachers are excited and committed to their discipline, students are more likely to succeed. Their
enthusiasm carries through their instruction and is contagious. I believe that low teacher morale
and poor motivation affects students’ academic achievement.
A positive environment is another important factor that I truly value in educational
practice since it influences students’ learning. An important aspect of effective teaching is the
ability to create a supportive, warm and positive classroom environment. To build a supportive
climate for learning, teachers need to share their expectations regarding learning and social
behavior with their students. An atmosphere of mutual respect and support in the classroom
needs to be established. When teachers create a classroom environment that enhances student
motivation and collaboration, students are more productive and successful.
What should be the focus of educational planning and delivery of services?
Instead of working to produce higher achievement scores, schools should teach students
how to become independent learners and promote critical thinking. Schools should emphasize
teaching survival skills that today’s students and working adults need for thriving in an
increasingly technological world. Students need to develop the ability to effectively apply
critical thinking skills to their academic studies, and to the critical choices they will be forced to
make in given situations. In order for people to make successful decisions in life, people must be
able to think critically. If students learn to think critically, then they can use good thinking in life
situations where they need to make smart decisions.
Teachers’ professional growth is also another area that schools should focus on. Good
teachers form the foundation of good schools, and improving teachers’ skills and knowledge is
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one of the most important investments of time and money that schools should make. Effective
teachers’ classroom practices lead to better student achievement. As a supervisor I would offer
teachers professional development workshops on how to improve classroom practices and how
to utilize technology to improve instruction. I will focus on creating a collaborative professional
learning environment where teachers and students have the opportunity to grow professionally.
How does one’s pedagogy actualize those beliefs and values?
I believe success is accompanied with passion, determination, vision, and knowledge. I
see my role as a teacher as one of transferring passion for learning while teaching my students
the necessary skills to succeed in college and be productive citizens. Passion is very important,
but knowledge is a priority. Effective teachers display a wide range of skills and abilities that
lead to creating a learning environment where all students feel comfortable and are sure that they
can succeed both academically and personally.
Fostering a love for learning in students is very important; however, mastery of
instruction is critical to their future success. High expectations and reachable goals need to be
established in order to facilitate learning. It is important to incorporate a variety of specific
teaching strategies that help direct the learning process and create a classroom environment that
promote student academic achievement and mastery of instruction. Teaching combines
knowledge, skills, passion and compassion. Students are kind and have feelings. They respond
to people who make them feel appreciated and respected. Instructional leaders should be role
models in the classroom and inspire their students.