ABSTRACT
As teachers, we know Aristotle's quote on learning to be rambunctiously true: “The more we know, the more we know we don't know.” Teaching is one of the most humbling professions there is, and it is by far the most rewarding. Becoming the best teacher is a lifelong pursuit, a never-ending journey of smiles, crying, giving up, starting again, success, and then repeating the cycle all over again. We want ALL of our students to be college and career ready, but we always have to remember the list of college- and career-ready skills that aren't readily posted: kindness, responsibility, perseverance, optimism, courage, respect, compassion, adaptability, honesty, trustworthiness, and loyalty, to name just a few. As equitable educators, we are invested in high academic outcomes for every learner, and we also know that by developing the whole child we prepare our students to be better versions of themselves. As I stated in chapter one, inclusion is more than a seat in the classroom, it includes presuming competence and assets over deficits, removing barriers to instruction to provide meaningful access, and holding the highest expectations for students with disabilities. They can reach the highest of goals, it may take a little longer, but they will reach the highest of goals.
