Teaching Fellows Interview

Summary

This reflective video script highlights essential qualities of a good leader, including strong communication skills, inclusivity, and humility. The speaker emphasizes the importance of adapting teaching methods to suit individual learning styles, particularly for special needs students, while maintaining a professional boundary in the classroom. Through personal experiences, the speaker showcases their commitment to self-improvement, growth, and creating an inclusive, positive environment for students. The script conveys a deep understanding of leadership and teaching, focused on empathy, dedication, and a strong work ethic to ensure every student receives the best possible education.

Takeaways

• 😀 Good leadership requires excellent communication skills, making sure people feel heard and understood.
• 😀 A leader should avoid a 'my way or the highway' attitude, and instead be open to feedback and different perspectives.
• 😀 Inclusivity is crucial in leadership. A leader should create an environment where everyone feels valued and respected.
• 😀 It’s important for leaders to educate themselves and understand others’ differences to foster inclusivity.
• 😀 Humility in leadership means recognizing that you’re not always the smartest person in the room and being open to learning from others.
• 😀 Maintaining a positive attitude in tough situations involves stepping back, looking at the bigger picture, and finding opportunities for growth.
• 😀 When teaching, adjusting lessons based on student needs, such as asking for feedback or changing teaching methods, is key to their success.
• 😀 For students with special needs, creating personalized lessons based on their interests (like animals) can make learning more relatable and engaging.
• 😀 Professionalism in teaching means establishing boundaries while still forming personal connections with students, which helps in creating a productive environment.
• 😀 A great teacher advocates for all students, especially those with special needs, and does not coddle but instead treats them as capable individuals.
• 😀 The speaker believes that hard work, dedication, and going the extra mile in both personal and academic life is what makes them a deserving candidate for the teaching fellow scholarship.

Q & A

What are three essential qualities in a good leader?

The three essential qualities in a good leader are communication skills, inclusivity, and humility.

Why are communication skills considered the most important quality for a leader?

Communication skills are crucial for a leader because they help create an open and understanding environment, allowing team members to feel heard and valued, which is key to avoiding a dictatorial leadership style.

How does the speaker apply communication skills when tutoring or teaching water skills?

The speaker actively engages with the students by asking them how they can better explain a concept, listening to their feedback, and adjusting their approach based on what the student needs.

What does inclusivity mean in the context of leadership?

Inclusivity involves creating a welcoming and non-judgmental environment where everyone feels comfortable, accepted, and valued. A leader should ensure that all differences are celebrated and that team members feel included.

How does the speaker emphasize the importance of inclusivity in leadership?

The speaker stresses that creating a comfortable and inclusive environment is essential for maintaining good morale and team retention. It’s important to educate oneself and avoid ignorance, and to celebrate differences.

Why is humility an important quality for a leader?

Humility is important because it prevents leadership from becoming arrogant. A good leader recognizes that they don’t have all the answers and is open to learning from others, especially those who may be more knowledgeable.

How does the speaker demonstrate humility in their approach?

The speaker acknowledges that they are not always the smartest person in the room and sees this as an opportunity to learn and grow by surrounding themselves with people who can teach them new things.

What is the speaker's approach to maintaining a positive attitude during challenging circumstances?

The speaker maintains a positive attitude by taking a step back to look at the bigger picture, finding a silver lining in every situation, and focusing on the growth and lessons that can be learned from challenging experiences.

What would the speaker do if their students didn’t understand a lesson?

The speaker would ask students for feedback on the teaching method, adjusting the lesson to better fit their learning style. For special needs students, they would adapt the lesson by incorporating their interests to make the material more relatable.

How does the speaker view professionalism in teaching?

The speaker believes professionalism in teaching involves maintaining strong boundaries with students while also building meaningful connections. It’s important to be a teacher and mentor, not a friend, and to enforce discipline when necessary to help students grow.

What makes the speaker's favorite teacher stand out?

The speaker’s favorite teacher was someone who advocated for non-verbal students, never coddled them, and was not afraid to ask for help when needed. This teacher’s approach was respectful and empowering, not patronizing.

Why does the speaker believe they are deserving of the teaching fellow scholarship?

The speaker believes they deserve the scholarship due to their strong work ethic and willingness to go the extra mile for their students, ensuring they receive the best possible education despite not having the highest grades or GPA.