Classrooms, Corners, and Community: My Teaching Philosophy in Real Life

 When people ask me what kind of educator I am, I don’t rattle off credentials (though I have them). I talk about the corner conversations, the hallway high-fives, the tough-love phone calls to parents who feel like they’ve run out of options.


My philosophy? Every young person is already brilliant. It’s our job as educators to unearth that brilliance, not manufacture it.


I’ve taught in traditional schools, faith-based academies, and nonprofit mentorship spaces. And no matter where I go, my approach stays the same:

• Lead with love

• Hold high expectations

• Never underestimate the power of presence

It’s not always pretty. There are days I go home emotionally spent. But then a student says, “Ms. Wilson, you really see me”—and that’s all the confirmation I need.

This blog will dive into the real-life practices that have kept me rooted: trauma-informed teaching, culturally responsive practices, restorative discipline, and workforce development for our young people.

Stay with me—let’s get into the how behind the heart.

In community,

Lamika

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