Integrity: Effective Educators And Role Models

I first got into, and later returned to, teaching because of the opportunity to have a positive impact on young people. It is my belief that three key traits help teachers become effective educators and role models.
The first and most important principle is integrity. To have integrity, you must identify the difference between right and wrong, and then live by what is right. It is crucial that a man never sacrifices what he believes is right for a short-term or selfish benefit. As teachers, we have the opportunity to influence and shape young women and men at a key stage in their lives. Integrity is as important to instill in students as it to have as an educator. Integrity cannot be taught if it is not demonstrated. A teacher with integrity also sees benefits, as he quickly earns the trust and respect of his students. Students with integrity will study and behave as they should, will prepare for and approach learning the right way, and will have a …show more content…
Loyalty is earned by displaying integrity and a strong work ethic. A loyal teacher earns the respect of his players, staff, community, and students. Loyalty is the backbone of a strong relationship, and strong relationships are the backbone of a strong school or classroom. Loyalty creates bonds that extend far beyond the class walls, that last long after the class has ended, and these bonds create a group of upperclassmen and graduates that are highly invested in the success of the class or school that they have advanced from, but never truly left.
The teacher who combines these three traits will be successful in the classroom. To me, a successful classroom is one where students grow. They learn new skills and refine old ones. But a successful classroom accomplishes more than just that. It helps the student to think, to question, and to grow as individuals. In turn, these individual students engage with the content and their peers, and they and their peers are better for