Developing Credibility as an Educator

Think of your favorite teacher or a trusted mentor. What words come to mind? You might consider their warm personality traits, such as memories of them being kind, nurturing, or fun.

Now, dig a little deeper. What feelings define this person’s influence? Perhaps it’s their genuine passion for teaching or love for inspiring you to understand a certain subject or experience.

Sincerity is a powerful characteristic of a leader. At Learning Care Group (LCG), we employ and empower 24k+ educators to help more than 165,000 children build a strong early learning foundation each day. Their commitment to supporting LCG families and their success as teachers is rooted in sincerely loving the children and believing in the work they’re doing.

During our February 2025 Teacher In-Service Day, we’re talking about the Power of Credibility and the four characteristics required to achieve credibility as a teacher. To be known as credible, one must inspire belief with integrity, accuracy, and authenticity. We want our educators to embody the power of credibility in the classroom by prioritizing:

• Trust (be a reliable classroom leader)
• Competency (be confident and capable)
• Dynamism (share energetic commitment)
• Immediacy (interact directly on the child’s level)

To help us build and display these important qualities, our teachers will hear from keynote speaker, Dr. Kateri Thunder. The experienced educational coach, consultant, and author is well-versed in how to maximize the potential of teaching young learners during the most critical years of their lives. Dr. Thunder is also a respected member of LCG’s Education Advisory Board offering insight, expertise, and guidance in the field of early childhood education.

Among her notable works, Dr. Thunder helped write the bestselling book, Visible Learning in Early Childhood, which highlights core strategies for learning success and a teacher’s role in ensuring a meaningful journey. She says, “Knowing which teaching strategies work best and when (to implement them) can have a significant impact on a child’s development and future success.”

During our bi-annual training sessions and discussions, teachers will:

• Explore their own “teacher identity” in the classroom
• Connect credibility traits to their learning and the children’s learning
• Identify examples of each characteristic in their own experiences
• Reflect on personal strengths and challenges
• Share their hopes for young learners
• Set goals to impact the outcome for students

Another key element of achieving teacher credibility is the ability to share sincere and consistent family engagement. Through intentional, authentic interactions, teachers also build community, provide support, and encourage parents to play an active role in their child’s education.

The result? Positive outcomes for all children, families, and teachers.

Want to help us build a brighter future? Search for job opportunities available right now in our school community and apply to join our team today.

Additional Resources:

Author Bio and Book List via Sage Publishing
The Early Childhood Education Playbook (2023)