Page 6 - Foundations of Professional Practice, August 2016

ONTARIO COLLEGE OF TEACHERS
Introduction
The Standards of Practice for the Teaching Profession and the Ethical Standards of Practice for the Teaching Profession describe what it means to be a member of the teaching profession in Ontario and reflect widely shared beliefs within the profession. They articulate the goals and aspirations of a teaching profession dedicated to fostering student learning and preparing Ontario students to participate in a democratic society. Members of the Ontario College of Teachers (the College), use the standards to reflect on their own development as teaching professionals and inform their practice and ongoing learning choices.
The standards acknowledge the contributions the profession makes to Ontario society. They convey to the public the commitment that College members make to students, the teaching profession and society.
The standards and the Professional Learning Framework for the Teaching Profession are based on the premise that teachers move through a variety of career stages that will influence
the multiple ways teachers live out the standards in their professional practice. All College members should be able to see the work they do described in the standards.
Throughout their careers, College members engage in a variety of formal and informal professional learning experiences that reflect the standards. All teachers – beginning teachers, experienced teachers, principals, supervisory officers, teacher educators and teacher leaders – engage in professional learning appropriate to their interests, needs, perspectives and responsibilities.
To ensure that the Foundations of Professional Practice reflects a shared understanding between the profession and the society it serves, the standards were developed and reviewed through extensive consultation and research with College members, educational partners and the public. The standards will be reviewed periodically to enable them to continue to reflect the evolving practices and aspirations of the teaching profession in Ontario. The College is committed to the ongoing development of the teaching profession.
4 FOUNDATiONS OF PROFESSiONAL PRACTiCE