Before taking my philosophy self-assessment, I was sure that my high score would fall somewhere in humanistic or social change. I was surprised when I saw that all of my scores fell within six points of each other across all five philosophies. After reflecting on this, I have decided that I have come to see the benefits of each philosophy of education and have drawn elements from each to shape my philosophy of education and teaching. Behavioral, Progressive, and Humanistic are the three philosophies in which I scored highest, and I will try to show how my philosophy relates to the ethical teaching of each in today's class. In Nodding's Philosophy of Education he states: "Reflective people continue to examine old answers, to generate new ones brought about by changing conditions, and to reflect on current answers in the interests of making education the best it can be." The teacher is to continually learn, reflect and change my practices to ensure that all students learn at high levels. As I stated before, my initial educational philosophy was behavioral. I was a little surprised to find that in my self-evaluation I still got the highest score in this category. However, upon further reflection and after reading BF Skinner, I believe that behavioral aspects still have an important role in education today. As an educator I have a moral responsibility to help students learn how to function as members of a classroom community. Skinner believes that the classroom and school environment should be as “conducive as possible to student learning.” Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports is a model that I truly believe in and have used successfully with children. Through PBIS, expected behaviors… middle of paper… those families to keep our democracy healthy. By providing quality after-school programs, family involvement and support, and connections to other community institutions and agencies, we can help children and families overcome obstacles. As I reflect on my twenty-three year teaching career and begin my new career as a literacy consultant, I feel that I have an ethical responsibility to the teachers and students in my school districts to make positive changes for the good of society. Palmer quote: “If our experience in the company of strangers is meant to deepen our sense of civic community and help us cultivate democratic habits of the heart, the lens of compassionate imagination is crucial” (p. 116). As I embark on this new chapter in my life, I intend to wear my “lens of compassion” and strive to be an ethical and moral steward for my community.