There are many definitions of a teacher and many interpretations of what the role of an educator is. To me a professional educator is someone who facilitates the expansive process of education and exploration within the individual. This facilitation, or mentorship, benefits not only the individual but also the community, creating sharp minds that challenge the world they live in to be a better place for those who come after. A professional educator must bring their passion and creativity to the classroom every day, be enthusiastic about education, and inspire their students to take an active and interested role in their own learning. But above all, it is through critical reflection on one's own practice and the modification of one's own practice, based on one's own observations and contemporary research, that a professional educator can promote the values ​​of democracy and bring justice into their classrooms by identifying and satisfying the needs of all those who walk through their doors. Theories of child development have influenced how we have educated children, as these theories change over time, it is the responsibility of a professional educator to critically analyze these paradigm shifts and incorporate evidence-based trends into the foundation of their teaching practice. Much of the stagnation in the public school system could be attributed to teaching modalities that perpetuate teacher-centered, lecture-based methods. This educational model does not take into account individuals' different learning styles and multiple intelligences. The kinesthetic learner who learns through natural discovery, or the visual learner who learns through dynamic interaction with images and spatially represented knowledge are poorly… middle of the paper… the intimate connection of all and how great the their personal impact can be. It is this awareness that can translate into justice in action inside and outside the classroom. A professional educator is at heart a professional student, always learning, reflecting, and changing as he or she engages more deeply in his or her profession. Only a passion for education will perpetuate the kind of personal renewal and critical insight that are essential to the growth and maturation of a professional educator; and this cannot be taught but must be explored together with the individual. It is through their passion, energy, creativity and love that a professional educator ultimately shapes and inspires in his or her students a thirst for knowledge, a passion for justice, and an inquiring, critical mind that has the confidence and tools to be a committed citizen of the world.