1. Care about students/youth.
My number one non-negotiable is that students are the center of concern. I am so hurt when I hear teachers from other school speak so poorly of students. It seems like they do not even like children, yet their job is to inspire them and teach them. As a teacher and future leader, I will not lose focus and where my heart is. I am here for students; I truly love them, not all their choices, but I am here to help and guide. I am not here to criticize, laugh at or talk poorly of them behind their backs. 2. Rigor. In the educational field, this is a good thing. It means that educational experiences, activities, projects and environments are challenging and build skills that are applicable in all parts of life. I expect the staff that I work with to create rigorous activities because I too am working hard to make learning meaningful and purposeful. All job positions at a school are important and rigor must be seen in all aspects. 3. Listen to Act. We hear things, but are we listening. Staffs need to listen to each other, have conversations and follow-up with each other. There are experienced teachers that can offer coaching on classroom management, transitions and “teacher tricks” to newer teachers. They must listen and then do it in their class, not disregard it. Additionally, there are many concerns that come up as a staff and it is important to listen and collectively come up with a plan. Leaders must not push issues to the side, but make a point to do something. It does not have to be big, but something that demonstrates there is an action is taking place. My leadership style is very clear. I have a democratic style. In my professional career, I have only been modeled this style. I think about how my school runs. There are many administrators that hold the school together in very diverse ways. Each one has approached the culture of the school with a democratic style. As a staff member, I have felt valued, part of the decision-making and never believed there was an "us" versus "them" mentality. Thus, I too have that leadership style. Working in the History Department, I encourage interaction and participation of all staff present. Clear directions are given and following-up is expected. When decisions are made, all those affected are contacted and asked. Additionally, I thought about what voices do I give attention to as a leader. My dimension of leadership can answer that, which is servant. My number one interest is on the needs of the stakeholders. By meeting their needs, I am gaining trust. Knowing what one thing I can do for colleague to make their day better or make tea for staff member that is not feeling well are examples of servant leadership. Trust is one of the most important parts of being a great leader. I am clearly not an authoritarian leader; I want the consent of the stakeholders by building their trust and following through with commitments. I think that assessing the staff and attempting to meet their needs is a great way to build culture of excellence. A staff that works together will be a staff that can focus on creating the best school in the universe.
I got my teaching credential in spring of 2007. I began as a long-term substitute at Health Sciences High and Middle College in the fall of 2007. I did many jobs from leading breakout session on Earth Science, creating online activities for the Anatomy and Physiology class, teaching Geography three days a week to finally taking over the 10th grade World History class. The following year, I was given the position as the 10th grade Social Studies teacher. Since HSHMC was very small at the time, I was the only full-time Social Studies teacher at HSHMC. I taught four sections of World History to about 140 students. My department was tiny and has since grown. We now have 3 full-time Social Studies teachers. I assisted in writing the curriculum outline for World History to be approved as our school was becoming certified. I completed my Masters in Education in 2011 through San Diego State University. This program also incorporated numerous reading and literary strategies. I have been able to use many strategies from these classes into my own teaching. From there, in 2013 I took an 8-week course to become Leading Edge Certified. According to the LEC website, it is a “national certification program in educational technology and curriculum innovation.” This really helped me blend my classroom and create meaningful activities online. Also, in 2013, I started working to become National Board Certified. This process included video taping two lessons, student work analysis, involvement in the community and a subject-based test. I passed and became a National Board Certified Teacher in 2014. I have also been a presenter on the Gradual Release of Responsibility Model in Wisconsin. This was a great experience because I was able to take my skills and teach others how to make their classrooms better. I also got a lot of feedback on how to become a better presenter. I am hoping to continue to present in my future.
Recently, my co-chair and I are working in a collaborative with San Diego District Social Studies teachers. There we are sharing ideas, creating Close Reading activities and looking into Common Core Standards paired with the new testing. We meet monthly and are also reading the book, Close Reading. I believe education is the most valuable thing I can give students. Why do I believe this? Let me share my story...
I believe this because of my high school teacher. Growing up in a small town in Northern California, I dreamed of making it big in the world I knew. How was I going to get there though? What did "big" even mean? Regardless, I was on a mission! I was blessed with the most wonderful group of friends, and a family that supported me dreaming. One of the friend's mom was the mother to us all, and we all called her "mom." She also was our high school English teacher. She wore so many hats and I am in awe of the greatness she created for us in the classroom and outside the classroom. She was loved by all students and challenged us daily with critical questions that I now can appreciate as an adult. There were two parts to how mom influenced me. First was her relationship with me. She empowered my dreams and encouraged me to see goodness in life/challenges/books/people. She cared about me outside of being a student and fostered my learning as a young woman. I was inspired by her strength as a Peace Core member in Columbia, a mother and wife. Her daughters were extended sisters to me and I traveled with her family on many occasions. On these real life trips, I realized that learning is real and applicable to life. I cannot thank her enough for just being who she was because that allowed to see how I was going to make it "big" in this dynamic world. I needed to go into education. Second was the relationship I saw between her and her students. She never gave up on a student and committed herself 110%. Mom was the best teacher. She met with one student at 7am for a year so that student could make up credits to graduate. I hope that commitment to others is in me as well. She is the reason I went into teaching and so much of my platform is formed on her ideals and passion. I so badly wanted to be someone who was going to influence others like she did with me. Today, I see little faces looking at me as I did at her. I believe that students matter and my gift to them is education and empowerment to make it "big." I BELIEVE EDUCATION IS THE MOST VALUABLE GIFT THAT I CAN GIVE STUDENTS. IN ADDITION TO THE SKILLS LIKE CRITICAL THINKING, RESEARCHING EVIDENCE, COLLABORATION, BUILDING CONCRETE BELIEFS AND CREATING INDEPENDENT LEARNERS, I BELIEVE THAT EACH STUDENT MATTERS. HOW I AS A TEACHER AND PERSON TREAT MY STUDENTS, MATTERS. STUDENTS MUST HAVE A VOICE IN THEIR LEARNING AND ASPIRATIONS. I KNOW THAT NOT ALL STUDENTS ARE GOING TO BECOME HISTORIANS, EVEN THOUGH I TRY HARD IN CLASS, BUT I DO KNOW THAT ALL STUDENTS ARE A PART OF THIS DYNAMIC WORLD THAT THEY MUST NAVIGATE THROUGH. IT IS ESSENTIAL THAT STUDENTS LEARN SKILLS THAT MAKE THEM SUCCESSFUL LIKE READING, WRITING AND MATHEMATICS. HOWEVER, IT IS NOT LIMITED TO JUST KNOWING THESE SUBJECTS, BUT EMPOWER THEM WITH HABITS THAT KEEP THEM GOING WHEN IT IS DIFFICULT AND UNDERSTAND THAT THE LEARNING BEGINS WHEN IT GETS CHALLENGING.
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AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. Archives
March 2015
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