Professional Dispositions
It is the responsibility of the College of Education and P-16 Integration, in collaboration with other colleges within UTRGV, to successfully prepare candidates to become effective teachers. UTRGV education programs expect candidates to demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and dispositions required of educators to ensure the success of all students. Dispositions are “the habits of professional action and moral commitments that underlie an educator’s performance” (InTASC Model Core Teaching Standards, p. 6).
The following professional dispositions align to InTASC standards and are expected of candidates in education programs in the university and in the schools. Student teachers self-assess on these dispositions. Student teachers’ professional dispositions are also assessed by their field supervisors and mentor teachers.
College of Education and P-16 Integration Professional Dispositions
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Learner Development and Diversity
- Respects and accounts for learners’ individual and cultural differences
- Respects and promotes learners’ linguistic diversity
- Collaborates with other professionals and families to support learners’ development
- Advocates for all learners
- Demonstrates interest in the welfare of learners
- Promotes intercultural interaction
- Believes all students can learn
- Holds learners to high expectations
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Critical Thinking and Reflective Practice
- Engages in critical thinking
- Demonstrates ability to solve problems
- Self-assesses and is reflective
- Accepts constructive criticism
- Is flexible and open to new ideas
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Professionalism
- Maintains high expectations for self and others
- Seeks opportunities for continued professional development
- Participates in professional and/or scholarly organizations and networks
- Maintains appropriate personal appearance for the professional context
- Meets attendance requirements and is punctual
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Ethical Practice
- Demonstrates understanding of and compliance with laws and policies
- Maintains privacy and confidentiality unless disclosure is required by law
- Demonstrates academic honesty and professional integrity
- Separates personal and professional issues
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Communication and Learning Environments
- Communicates effectively with all stakeholders orally and in writing
- Demonstrates professional interpersonal skills with all stakeholders
- Displays enthusiasm for working collegially
- Works productively as a team member
- Avoids ethnocentric or gender---specific generalizations
- Accepts diverse opinions and perspectives
- Understands others’ perspectives about teaching
- Demonstrates compassion
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Content and Instruction
- Demonstrates enthusiasm toward teaching and learning new and challenging material
- Evaluates and implements various models of professional practice
- Prepares and implements lessons, materials, and assessments that meet individual student needs within discipline specific contexts
- Uses innovative technology to promote learning
- Demonstrates culturally and linguistically responsive practices