I have a hard time separating my role of an educator from my other roles as a designer and writer. I see them all as an extension of the same thing: a desire to simplify and a passion for technology.
I have pretty clear ideas of the best practices when it comes to the craft of digital design. One of my goals as an educator is to spread concepts such as the value of web standards, the importance of respecting the user (or reader) and what it means to be a professional.
One of the joys of educating is the payoff as former students achieve success in the real world. It makes all the hard work worth it.