Professional Dispositions

Teaching is more than knowing content, planning lessons, and instructing students. Teachers, both pre-service and in-service, must also demonstrate the professional attitudes and conduct that facilitate student learning and convey a positive image of the education profession. These professional dispositions are the values, actions, attitudes, and beliefs of educators as they interact with students, families, community members, and professional colleagues. Professional dispositions are a vital element of teacher preparation and are the expected behaviors of all educators in the Rutgers Camden Teacher Education Program.

As students progress through their program of study, each is expected to demonstrate their mastery of professional dispositions. These beliefs and attitudes shape how an educator interacts with University and school placement colleagues, students, and families. In the Rutgers Camden Teacher Education Program, faculty members identified the following dispositions:

1. Exhibits Professional Demeanor and Practices 

Candidates must exhibit professional appearance, ethical and legal practices, and demeanor. It is imperative to demonstrate positive messages about their discipline and the teaching profession; engage in professional, legal, and ethical conduct; be dependable, punctual, and well-prepared; and ensure the safety of their students.

  • Follows university, school, and/or district policies for professional appearance (Examples may include):
      • Professional dress according to the districts’ dress code policies while in field placement;
      • Uphold personal hygiene practices and healthy routines.
  • Complies with university and school district policies and procedures (Examples may include):
      • Completes assignments by designated due dates and exhibits academic honesty;
      • Meets expectations and produces quality work;
      • Seeks help in a timely manner and demonstrates good citizenship;
      • Maintains student, family, and staff confidentiality.
  • Engages in professional, legal, and ethical conduct (Examples may include):
      • Adheres to legal and ethical standards of behavior; the New Jersey Professional Standards for Teachers, and the Rutgers University Code of Student Conduct.
  • Displays a professional demeanor (Examples may include):
      • Is punctual and well-prepared for professional and academic activities;
      • Meets attendance expectations both at the University and in field placement;
      • Actively and professionally participates in class;
      • Assists others when necessary.

2. Communicates and Collaborates Effectively and Professionally

Candidates engage in effective and professional communication. They use professional language in all situations, ensuring that communications are free from bias and meet the needs of diverse learners, and demonstrates respect for others and their ideas. Moreover, interpersonal and communication skills should be used to promote positive partnerships with members of all learning communities. Candidates also effectively and accurately communicate their ideas (oral and written) and engage in active listening. Finally, candidates are aware of their digital footprint on social media and take action to ensure that their electronic presence does not lead to questions of their integrity, professionalism, and character.

  • Expresses a positive attitude toward learning through intellectual curiosity and participation in all professionally related experiences (Examples may include):
      • Participates in class activities and professionally related associations;
      • Demonstrates respect for others and their ideas;
      • Meets expectations for assignments, tasks and teamwork;
      • Collaborates with peers and other professionals (instructors, field supervisors, mentor teachers) to improve student achievement and ensure system-wide high-quality learning opportunities and experiences for all students. 
      • Adds to group efforts and considers and responds to multiple perspectives;
      • Demonstrates positive conflict resolution techniques effectively, respectfully, and empathetically across a wide range of situations and people;
  • Utilizes professional oral and written communication based on the purpose and audience (Examples may include):
      • Uses grammatically correct oral and written communication and suitable tone of voice and verbal/nonverbal expressions;
      • Employs professional language in all situations ensuring that communications are free from bias and meet the needs of diverse learners;
      • Exercises appropriate self-disclosure.
  • Demonstrates kind and respectful interactions with others in all settings (Examples may include):
      • Responds appropriately to actions and reactions of others and takes responsibility for own actions;
      • Is flexible to unexpected or new situations and acts from a positive frame of reference;
      • Maintains emotional control by expressing ideas and feelings clearly and demonstrating a willingness and an ability to listen to others;
      • Assumes appropriate roles and participates fully in the collaborative process;

3. Receives and Acts Upon Professional Feedback

Candidates positively accept critical feedback about professional practices, always work to continually improve teaching performance, and demonstrate flexibility and adaptability. Candidates make observations and ask questions about teaching practices, demonstrate knowledge of subject and curriculum and how to access new information, seek information for making practice decisions, respond professionally to constructive feedback, demonstrate understanding of standards, and evaluate his/her own performance and reflect upon their own practices.

  • Accepts responsibility for personal actions or decisions (Examples may include):

      • Responds appropriately to supervision and uses constructive criticism and suggestions to improve skills and understanding;
      • Implements constructive feedback from others to improve their practice;
      • Creates a safe environment for their students;
      • Possesses maturity, integrity, self-discipline, and sound judgment;
      • Engages in professional development based upon self-reflection.

4. Commitment to Students and Their Learning

Candidates demonstrate their commitment to student learning, promote student self-determination and autonomous functioning, and demonstrate high expectations for ALL students. Candidates serve students at all levels of student ability, use strategies and supports that facilitate student learning, and convey high learning and behavioral expectations for all students. Candidates are actively engaged in a community of learners that develops relationships, programs, and projects with colleagues in P-20 schools 

  • Demonstrates a commitment to students’ learning (Examples may include):

      • Exhibits understanding of subject-area/ content knowledge, and adherence to the New Jersey Student Learning Standards and field placement curriculum for planning and teaching.
      • Promotes and demonstrates high expectations for ALL students, including student self-determination and autonomous functioning;
      • Creates a positive, low-risk learning environment;
      • Values all aspects of a child’s well-being (cognitive, emotional, psychological, social and physical)
  • Utilizes a full range of differentiated instructional practices (Examples may include):
      • Utilizes learning theories and development and individual differences, including students’ strengths, culture, needs, and experiences when planning instruction;
      • Uses flexible groupings for instruction and provides multiple opportunities for all students to succeed;
      • Displays creativity to enhance the instructional process;
      • Develops and adapts instruction to use evidence-based “best practices.”