33 6.2 Positionality Statement

There are many components that make up my identity. Navigating my faith as a Christian woman and being a member of the LGBTQ+ community has given me a unique perspective on intersecting and sometimes conflicting identities. These experiences have influenced how I teach and interact with students and colleagues. Moreover, growing up in poverty and in unstable environments left me
excluded in educational settings as a child. This has shaped me into a caring and empathetic educator.

My experiences have made me committed to building equitable classrooms and connecting with all of my students. My identities and life experiences have made me a resilient person which has made me open-minded with my learning. I embrace teaching and learning with new technologies. Moreover, as a result of my life experiences, I always search for technologies that are cost-free, and accessible. I would like to learn more about having boundaries as an educator. As an overly empathetic person, I have, in the past, lacked professional boundaries with students and colleagues. This has led to challenging relationships with students and colleagues. Lastly, as it relates to technologies, I would like to continue to find more accessible and fun digital learning tools for students.