I believe that meaningful learning happens when students feel emotionally, mentally, and physically safe. It is critical that every student feels their ideas are valued and incorporated into the learning process. As a teacher, my role is to create this space and to help my students develop a culture of kind discourse to serve as the foundation for learning. By decentralizing my role as the teacher to learn alongside my students, I can tap into their curiosity and help guide them to deeper understanding and an appreciation for the learning process. I believe that it is imperative to ensure that educational content is relevant and accessible to all students. I strive to break down barriers between students in order to build community through intentional social-emotional teaching practices. An important piece of this is acknowledging injustices that my students face, so that I can be a culturally responsive educator. I hope, throughout every lesson, to instill in my students a sense of wonder and power.