During the past 30 years, I’ve really focused on my career in teaching. I honestly never really wanted to do anything else. Not only did I love the kids, but I truly enjoyed the challenge of desegregating data, creating learning plans to focus on specific learning targets, creating innovative lessons and successfully juggling several challenges at one time. I always equated teaching to a logic problem; the challenge was what made the job enjoyable.
In fact, it wasn’t until year 24 that I even entertained the thought of leaving. Up until that time, I had been blessed with amazing administration. However, during that year and the one following it, the administration in my building was brutal. For the first time in my life, I experienced anxiety attacks and spent much of my time in tears. I was ready to walk away, but was afraid I wasn’t qualified for anything else. Luckily, that particular administration regime was “reassigned” and a new, innovative and technology obsessed admin team came into the building. I had a new lease on teaching, and year 26 ended up being the best one ever!
Throughout my first 26 years, I’ve been encouraged by many to branch out and share my expertise. I began designing and delivering professional development workshops in the early years. But it wasn’t until about four years ago, that I applied to become an Instructional Technology Specialist inside my school division. After several interviews, I was given the opportunity to work for one of my former administrators, who had become principal at a nearby school. I’m finishing my third year in a K-5 elementary school, coaching teachers and students on the integration of technology into instruction. The transition from the classroom into the role of an Instructional Technology Specialist has really been a change that I needed. I still get to do everything I love about teaching; work with students, examine data, plan innovative lessons, play and teach with fun technology tools, but I don’t have the parent conferences, discipline issues, report cards and hours of grading papers.
This new role has also opened up many opportunities for growth and development. My AMAZING principal agreed to send me to several big technology conferences, including ISTE, VSTE, FETC (twice!!) and SchoologyNEXT. I’ve also been given many opportunities to present and train educators on different platforms and programs such as ClassCraft, Seesaw, Schoology, Google, and GoFormative. I’ve presented to educators in my building, as well as at local, state and national conferences. I have developed skills and talents that have made be a better educator.
Stepping out of the classroom and into a new role was a bit scary as I was stepping into unfamiliar territory. However, through that opportunity, I have changed as an educator. It’s been a fun and exciting adventure and I am grateful for the opportunities I gotten from it.
More than a Teacher 