Tuesday, March 31, 2015

Am I where I want to be?

Thanks to an invitation from Chris Crouch (aka @the_explicator) I've decided to accept the April Blog a Day Challenge. I realize I've been kind of a slacker when it comes to writing and I'm hoping that the focused topics, inspiration and comraderie will help to keep me motivated. 

#AprilBlogADay Day 1 Am I where I want to be?
When I started teaching in 2002 I had two goals:  to work in a school I love and complete my National Board Certification. And by 2008 I had accomplished both. Nothing to do but enjoy my time with the students and cruise to retirement, right?

But there's an awesome kind of transformative magic to the National Board protocols that no one tells you about. Whether you achieve or not, you can't help but be inspired by the process. The teacher mentors you meet, the programs and professional development you learn about and the teacher leadership you begin to recognize in yourself and others. 

But it wasn't just the National Board process that shaped my thinking. Somewhere along the way I realized that I loved the process of learning and teaching. I loved continuous improvement and research and reflection. I loved challenging myself and others.

And I had amazing administrators that patiently answered all of my "But what if?" questions. They gave me a safe space to learn and lead and grow. They showed me how to be an inclusive leader and encourage others to do so.

And at some point when I began to get a little restless for a new challenge I was introduced to the Center for Teaching Quality (teachingquality.org), a national organization that promotes teacher leadership. And they connected me to resources to learn how to advocate and problem-solve and share my expertise. I began to think about how I could improve teaching and learning for students and teachers. I began to tweet and blog. I began to give presentations around my state and help other teachers discover their own teacher leadership. I began to participate in conferences with teachers across the nation and around the world about best practices and future goals. 

All of these things have led me to where I find myself today. I have more experiences and opportunities than I would have imagined and every day is better than the day before. I'm constantly learning new things, meeting new people and cataloging new experiences. I've learned to define my career by the moments not the milestones. I am definately where I want to be.