Hello, this blog experience is a totally new level of technology for me. However, it is shedding new light to me in just what I have missed in the world of Internet.
My definition of an Educator.
Education has been in my blood since October 18, 1961. Yes, that was the day I was born. I was fortunate to have parents and extended family members as educators. My guiding light, strongest supporter, and safety net was my Mother. My Mother inspired me that there was nothing that I could not do. Her message was demonstrated in her daily life style of truly eating, breathing, and living in the classroom. Night after night she talked on the phone to parents and teachers while grading papers or completing lesson plans. It was a common experience for my Father to remove the papers from her lap after falling asleep while working. In my world, I thought that every mother did the same thing as my Mother. Her students were her children. If someone asks me how many siblings I had, the answer was more than you can imagine. As I grew older and started thinking about my future, becoming a teacher seemed to be the natural choice. I thought, “Why not?” I loved to play school, write on the board, and was great at being bossy. That was simple; I had all the qualities of a teacher. While a freshman at NCSU, my life shattered. On November 12, 1981, I lost my guiding light from this physical earth. My safety net and number one fan left in the blink of an eye. My first thought was to move back home and forget school. Then all of sudden, two days after Mother’s death, I experience a real inner conversation with my Mother. It was the moment in my life and to this present day that I knew I had to be the person she knew I could be. The foundation had been laid and it was made of concrete.
I graciously love and enjoy my life as an educator. I have taught in many different schools and various grades ranging from kindergarten to ninth grade for over twenty years. After completing my National Boards in 2000, I could not get back in college fast enough. Next thing I knew I had completed my Masters in Administration and changed from the teaching profession to the administrative roll. With the attitude, there is no stopping, I decided to enter the doctoral program and better yet complete my Doctors in Educational Leadership with a minor in Curriculum Instruction via online. This personal determination and excitement to learn is critical in my life. I have also had the honor to become a Principal at a Middle School within my district. Continuous rewarding experiences keep happening each day for me.
I share this story because this is who I am as a person and an educator, all wrapped up into one person. I strongly feel when a person states, “I am an Educator,” that the person has had a guiding light and real inspiration to make a difference in someone else life. I dedicate who I am and what I love doing each day to my Mother. Thanks Mom!!
How did you become an educator?
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11 comments:
During the late 1970’s I was working in Puerto Rico when my nephew, who has a learning disability, started school. Because of his disability he would get frustrated, angry and discouraged when attempting to do his school work. This was the turning point in my life; there and then I knew I was going to be a teacher. My first year of teaching was in 1990, where I was a bilingual kindergarten teacher in the city of New York.
A move to Florida was necessary in 1995 and there I became an English as a Second Language (ESL) teacher. This new position gave me the opportunity to work with students from many countries. To give you an idea of what I'm talking about, I worked with students from Kenya, Syria, Vietnam, Mexico, China, Turkey, Argentina, Sierra Leone, Ukraine, Belarus, Colombia, India, Jerusalem, just to name a few! In my second year there I had 14 countries represented in my class; now you talk about racial identity, diversity, cultural richness, and religious beliefs!
Suddenly, a reality check and a strong overwhelming feeling; the reality and responsibility of being an educator … I was touching the future, impacting lives forever and I only had one chance to do it right. Those 10 months when they were MY students. What an awesome undertaking. I realized my teaching strategies needed to be effective, diverse, understandable and structured. My students needed to understand, at the outset, what they were going to learn, how they were going to be assessed, and what my expectations for them were if I was going to be an effective teacher.
My classroom experienced a dramatic change, one that I continue to use even today. To have a learning environment where my students could learn, feel safe, and relate to each other, I eliminated all desks INCLUDING MINE! (round tables came in). Also, I integrated my lessons, created activities, read books, studied maps, and discussed religious viewpoints and hundreds of other things about each and every one of the countries represented in my classroom. All our work stayed up on the walls for the entire school year, as visuals, points of reference and especially for parents, teachers and visitors to see all the things we had learned.
Today, I'm in my 17th year as an educator and I have never waivered in my commitment, my love for teaching, my love for my students or my responsibility. I have encouraged my students to be problem solvers and high level thinkers. I have exposed them to a variety of learning opportunities giving them the confidence to research, analyze, investigate, and to come to their own conclusions. I have taught them to be proud of their uniqueness, their talents, to set goals for themselves and work towards those goals. But I also have taught them that as members of society they must work in collaborative groups, strengthening their communication skills and valuing each other.
My memories of all my years as a teacher are beautiful, special and worthy to be written in a book (my next goal in life perhaps?). My students have taught me the beauty of all the positive things we can accomplish if we honestly strive for a better tomorrow.
Michelle
This year marks my thirteenth in education and I still find that funny considering the path I followed…
I grew up in a suburban city just east of San Diego, California. While I did well in elementary school, I fell apart in high school and ended up getting kicked out of two different schools. After, I drifted around and took different “Joe jobs” to make ends meet. Then my mother dropped the big one… I either had to finish up high school and start taking courses at community college, or pay rent.
Since I didn’t want to pay rent, I went back and quickly finished up high school. When I enrolled in my first college class, I was nervous and had no real idea what I was doing. But I sure did enjoy learning about history from my professor. She painted a vivid picture in her class, and we instantly formed a connection. The next term I took another of her classes, and along the way began to develop a little bit of confidence and a feeling of self-worth that I had long-forgotten. Before I knew it, I had transferred to UCSD as a history major.
After finishing college, I decided that teaching history might be almost as much fun as studying it, and enrolled in a credentialing program. While attending, I took a job as a classroom aide for emotionally disturbed students and found it quite rewarding. Since I had the fondest school memories of being a middle school-aged student, that is where I chose to teach.
In my subsequent eleven years at middle school I taught: history, English, art, p.e., computers, yearbook, and A.V.I.D. Next, I went really crazy, took a position as dean of students at a “needs improvement” middle school, and had the best year of my career as an educator.
This year, I chose a slightly different path, and moved to the K-8 school district that I attended as a youth. While it’s been a little different working with such a diverse age group, it’s been fun so far (especially the kinders, although one did throw up on me my second day). I look forward to working in my new position, and to seeing where my current position and eventual doctorate take me.
Gail,
I share your sentiments. I actually ended up in education by accident. I earned my undergraduate degree and planned to return for my master's degree; however, during that summer, I was notified by the university that my financial aid had been declined. Well, needless to say, the rest is history.
As I reflect upon my experiences during my earlier years, I am always in awe as to how I ended up as a principal. I too serve as a principal at the middle school level; I actually began my career at this same school as a day-to-day substitute! So I tell you, I still have to pinch myself to remember that this is real!
I must tell you, I don't regret one experience. I had planned to become Ms. Corporate America; however, I am thankful that my path went in a different direction. I truly love children and being involved in such a pinnacle phase of their lives.
I am always amazed how they grow from a timid, quiet 6th grader to the outspoken, sometimes defiant, 8th grader. However, I love to see them go through these stages, because I have been blessed with the opportunity to effect change in their lives. There is no greater honor that that.
Thanks for sharing.
Stephanie
Glenda,
I must say that I believe that I was one of the lucky ones! I knew when I was five years old that I wanted to be a teacher. Of course, I occassionally thought about being a doctor, a police officer, and other things. However, I ALWAYS wanted to be a teacher.
When I started school I was very shy and my mother was actually afraid to send me to school. Ironically my kindergarten teacher was a red-headed, freckled lady who I looked an awful lot like and made all the difference. Since that time I had always done well in school, had a great relationship with almost all of my teachers, and simply loved to learn. I remember bringing home extra dittos and playing "school" in my parents basement with my sisters and our friends. Later while in high school one of my best friends had a handicapped sister. Boy did I take to her. It was at this time that I knew that I wanted to work with special education students.
I can now say that I worked with special education students for about twenty years. Since then I have moved in to administration and work with other very "special" people. I am so glad you asked the question, "How did you become an educator?" and am happy to share this story with you.
Thanks,
Dr. J
Michelle, I am glad to see that you use such diversity in the classroom! I can only imagine the unique experiences you have in your class with all the diversity and cultures learning in your classroom. ESL students are special students and require a lot of time and individualized attention, and I think you give them a positive experience in American education. They are truly lucky to have such an outstanding teacher.
Dan, I believe your own personal experience makes you an outstanding educator. I'm sure you can relate to students who struggle with school and with personal issues. I'm glad you met your history professor and chose to go into education. I think that your various assignments have made you an all-around person with experience that can be well appreciated by other educators. I know its not easy working at a "needs improvement" school. They are full of daily challenges and hurdles! I am excited to know that you are still pursuing your education and that you strive to infulence others to do the same.
Stephanie, it is amazing how fate can change our plans and take us down paths we never dreamed we would take. I know I didn't plan on going into administration, but once I got a taste of what it is like to go back to school, I couldn't stop! I wouldn't change it for anything. I've watched students go through middle school, high school, college, and I've even taught their own children! And I know what a difference I made in both the parent and student's lives. I take a lot of pride in that. Actually, it has driven me to be a better person, educator, and someone who others look up to. Education's path is full of twists and turns, but its all worth the ride in the end.
In administration, I have met more "special" people than you can imagine. However, on a serious note, I have found that being an administrator for a short amount of time to be a very rewarding experience. I am working with my first autistic student. She is extremely smart and I find it a challenge to help her understand why other students do not catch on as fast as she does. She is very sensitive to colors, sound, and expects her routine to be the same each day. Unfortunately, in middle school, no two days are ever alike. My biggest challenge is helping her to socialize with her peers. I admire you for wanting to make a difference with exceptional students.
Hi! Why did I become a teacher? As far back as I can remember, I loved to babysit, and take care of children. It's as if I have a protective gene inside of me.
I was active in a youth group as a teen ager, and the youth director noticed something in me...He took time with me, talking and helping me understand what I needed to do in order to grow and use my talents. I think I was considred an average kid in school. One of those kids that gets looked over. I wasn't that great at tests either. But with his encouragement, I began believing in myself, went to college, and earned my BS in education from UGA. I have never regretted being a teacher. It has only been the past 4 years, that I have considered becoming an administrator, with the encouragement of my husband. I believe at this point in my career, after 19 years, I have the experience, knowledge and background to train and work with adult educators. We will see where this next chapter in my career takes me. Good luck to all.
Renni Wooden
Educator,
Unfortunately, political and cultural feedback develops a complimentary relationship between the student and teacher that is everlasting. Although the future of this journey is still unforeseen, the destiny has been predicted. John Wooden once said, “Do not let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do.” Unfortunately, people often let their emotions control their thought process, which, in turn, might become a good or bad situation. In any case, the inner feeling usually outweighs the outer satisfaction with or without policy issues, especially in education. After all, “a vision without plan is simply a hallucination.” Hence, having a plan is why I have been a great teacher, coach, administrator, and mentor for so many youth of today and tomorrow.
Semper Fi,
Sgt. Lowery
Reading your story brought tears to my eyes. I wish I had such a great story to tell.
I became an educator as a second career. At the ripe old age of 40, I entered the classroom for the first time unbeknowing of what to do or how things would be. Boy, did I have a lot to learn!
I finished high school a year early and got married at age 17 because that's what my mother told me I needed to do. She said they did not have the money to send me me college when I repeatly asked why I couldn't go. Guidance councelors were of no assistance and never did one tell me if I tryly wanted to go to college there was a way. Finally, upon acceptance of the financial issue, I just did the obvious. As you would imagine, the marriage didn't work out and as I was trying to decide what to do with my life now I decided to check out college. The cost of community college tutition was not that much and if I didn't do anything else, I could afford to pay my rent, utility etc. on my little budget and pay tutition to take one class at a time. I began slowly and after a class or two I got a new job that provided tutition benefits for it's employees. That was a God-send. It tool me 8 years but I finally got my 2 year associates degree in accounting. the thrill of this accomplishement gave me the will-power to continue to a four-year university and after working 50 hours a week and attending school at night for four more years, I finally completed that program. Along about that time the love-bug bit and I got married again. It wasn't long before children came along and I quit work to stay home with them. When the youngest started school, it was time for me to go back to work. I took a long, hard look at myself and asked what I really wanted to do with my life. I had loved school, all 24 years of it, and decided maybe I would love teaching as well as I had loved studying. I went to my local school board office and asked what I needed to do. the gentleman in charge of human resources tool my college transcripts and mailed them to the state of Virginia for evaluation. when they came back, he told me I needed to take 5 education classes and 3 other business classes and I could teach in the Business and Information Technology Dept. of the high school. Now I didn't know if I was ready to teach in a high school. The news media potrayed such negative things about our high school that I didn't know if I wanted to be a part of it. However, the only way to find out was to be there. I signed up to attend a workshop for substitutes and began subbing in the high school and found out that only about 1% of the students caused 99% of the trouble and I didn't actually see any of that. At the same tiime I started taking the classes I needed and as luck would have it, a position came opent he next year. Although I had three years from that point forward to finish the classes, I finished them in one. I was anxious to learn all I could. When my classes were over and I had taught for only a year, I didn't feel as though I knew all I need to know about teaching and the students involved. I kept taking all the education classes I could find and after a while I got a letter from the college where i was taking classes telling me if I were going to take any more classes I need to apply into a program. I took the collge catalog and my transcripts to compare them and found out I only needed 3 more classes to get a master's degree in supervision and administration. So, that's what I did. Now, at the age of 51, I am still in school working on my doctrate. I guess I do love school, both attending and teaching. You can truly call me a lifelong learner!
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