Looking Forward

 As I continue my journey as a middle school English teacher, I am reminded constantly by the perpetual need to better myself in many ways. Education is full of paperwork, of office politics, of stakeholders in the form of parents and interested parties, and of course, full of students whose job it is to learn from me. Ultimately, as an educator, I need to be the perfect vessel, but I also need to show up in every area of my career and multitask in a way that makes me efficient, and a leader. My ongoing goals for myself as a professional include becoming a more active leader in relationship to other staff in the English department, being a better resource for students struggling with literacy, and keeping up with technological and curriculum developments as they arise.

 

Leadership is a facet of working within my organization that runs in cycles. As the veteran teachers, of whom we all look up to, retire, there needs to be someone to fill the leadership gap. My principal has indicated to me that he would like me to increase my colleague relations in preparation for assuming one of the leadership roles in our district within the next five years. I must confess that this opportunity is simultaneously flattering, foreboding, and ultimately an educational moment for me. Throughout my masters at Michigan State University, I have studied the art of Secondary Leadership as one of my majors, and though I have the technical know how and planning resources, practice is much different that theory because of the human component. I will continue to strive to deserve a position within my district which will shoulder a lot of departmental responsibility. My plan of action is to take a more aggressive interest in my colleagues: their personal lives, their goals as educators, their areas of improvement over the past few years. If I truly know my coworkers, then slipping into a leadership position will become more seamless and will be ultimately beneficial to everyone.

 

Another goal that I have for myself is to be a better resource for students who are currently struggling with literacy. As I have learned throughout my career and throughout my studies, gaps in education regarding literacy can be in the way students perceive truths of writing and narrative, issues in understanding procedural processes for technology, and a whole other host of problems. My plan is to get to the root of what my students struggle with, and then implement strategies that are appropriate based on their needs. A student who struggles with morphology, for example, would benefit from concrete planners and studying roots of words to find meaning and break down new words as they come into contact with that students' pre established lexicon. A student who struggles with signing into Edmodo online, however, needs procedural help specific to that problem and literacy online. Identification is key to intervention, and I will strive to become better at anticipating and identifying my students' needs.

 

My last goal is to keep up with technological and curriculum developments as they arise for me in my line of work. This may seem as if it is two different goals, but I think that with any profession, continuing to perfect and refine practice is essential. In education specifically, one must constantly be flexible as new technology and new standards are constantly being altered and added. Policy changes as different powers pass bills. We work for the state, and if we want the state's money, we must roll with the punches. It is as simple as that. Teachers who remain stagnant are those who burn out because they are unwilling to bend to the new literacies and requirements of their feild. I will strive to be someone who is always on the forefront of the change, who is able to not only adapt, but also is able to lead other staff members through the changes necessary as they become realities for us through the state and through advancements in our society.

 

In conclusion, there are three goals that I will meet as an educator and will continue to work through as my career progresses. These are to be a more active leader with staff and with my English department in my district, to be a better resource for students who struggle with literacies necessary for their education, and to keep up with the developments of curriculum and technology in my practice and in my leadership journey. I believe that these goals are completely attainable for me as a professional, but I also believe that they will take constant vigilance and the ability to continue and be excited about learning different methods and experiment with my position and students. I know I can rise to this challenge.