Goals: A Journey, Not a Destination
When reflecting back on my experience through this program, I recollect some very pivotal moments. I started my Masters within the Teaching and Curriculum program. This program at the time aligned to my goals. I was a new teacher, in a school without any curriculum. I wanted to advance my teaching with more innovative instruction. Because my school allowed such liberty, my end goal was to feel confident creating my own curriculum aligned to the standards that helped meet the needs of my students. To achieve this, I wanted to understand curriculum from the inside out starting with how it is designed, to the reasons behind accommodations.
Goals Accomplished through my MAET Program |
Through my program I had many extraordinary experiences that helped shape the educator I am today and ultimately created twists and turns within my program path. First, I had the opportunity to teach in South Africa for the summer through a study abroad program. During this experience, I gained a perspective to the educational world that was very unfamiliar to me, my upbringing, and the experiences through my undergraduate teacher preparation program. I found a true passion for teaching and making a difference on this trip. I always knew I wanted to be a teacher, but this trip really put those thoughts into action for me. I was able to see my purpose and understand its importance.
Following my study abroad experience, I completed my internship year with Chicago Public Schools. Finding myself on the south side of Chicago, I was working with students who had a lot of potential but didn’t see or use any of it. This experience helped narrow my goal focus on urban education. I find myself teaching at the same school six years later and really evolving myself as a life-long learner for the betterment of my students. To add to my initial goal of understanding curriculum, I now had the task of bridging the achievement gap for underprivileged youth in a school and community setting with limited resources. |
About a year ago, I came to a crossroad. I was continuing to work on my craft in my classroom, but looking for something new and challenging for myself. Throughout my years at my school I had taken on leadership roles with my administration and my colleagues. I was coming to the realization that I wanted to use my talents in a new platform. I wasn’t sure at the time what that exactly looked like, but I sought out to find my next career goal. I must note that I have never lost sight of my initial goal, but yet, my initial goal evolved and adapted with me on career path through the experiences I made for myself.
This is a good time to introduce someone who has had an intricate part in helping me develop my career goals. My principal has been an outstanding mentor for me throughout the years. I owe a lot of my inspiration to her. She has essentially taken me under her wing and given me the confidence to pursue a leadership position within this profession. I learn from her every day, and am excited to carry out the model of leadership she has shown me throughout the years.
With leadership being my new focus, I was presented with an opportunity to combine two passions of my mine; leadership and technology. I was accepted into a STEM Fellowship through MSU-WIPRO and CPS. This year fellowship did several things for me. First, I gained confidence with STEM initiatives within my classroom. So much so, that I decided to convert my credits to pursue a degree with the MAET program. This fellowship also presented many leadership opportunities from leading professional developments to presenting at national conferences.
I am a true believer that goals are a journey not a destination. Throughout my program, my goals have evolved based on my situation, my experiences, and my new formed passions to make a difference in the lives of my students. I quite often look over my teaching philosophy I created my first year of teaching. I am proud to say that my core values for teaching and learning have not changed through the years. I see aspects of that philosophy in everything that I do, and with every career opportunity I chose. From exploring curriculum and integrating innovative STEM initiatives, to seeking a leadership opportunity, one goal has stayed true; I am committed to providing my students with an experience where learning in meaningful and their love for learning continues past the walls of our classroom and past the year I have with them.
This is a good time to introduce someone who has had an intricate part in helping me develop my career goals. My principal has been an outstanding mentor for me throughout the years. I owe a lot of my inspiration to her. She has essentially taken me under her wing and given me the confidence to pursue a leadership position within this profession. I learn from her every day, and am excited to carry out the model of leadership she has shown me throughout the years.
With leadership being my new focus, I was presented with an opportunity to combine two passions of my mine; leadership and technology. I was accepted into a STEM Fellowship through MSU-WIPRO and CPS. This year fellowship did several things for me. First, I gained confidence with STEM initiatives within my classroom. So much so, that I decided to convert my credits to pursue a degree with the MAET program. This fellowship also presented many leadership opportunities from leading professional developments to presenting at national conferences.
I am a true believer that goals are a journey not a destination. Throughout my program, my goals have evolved based on my situation, my experiences, and my new formed passions to make a difference in the lives of my students. I quite often look over my teaching philosophy I created my first year of teaching. I am proud to say that my core values for teaching and learning have not changed through the years. I see aspects of that philosophy in everything that I do, and with every career opportunity I chose. From exploring curriculum and integrating innovative STEM initiatives, to seeking a leadership opportunity, one goal has stayed true; I am committed to providing my students with an experience where learning in meaningful and their love for learning continues past the walls of our classroom and past the year I have with them.