Both my long term and short term goals that I created are missional. I have already advanced a part of my short term goal of becoming a consultant teacher within Chicago Public Schools by completing the application for the position. I am currently in the process of creating a Personal Learning Network (PLN) to become an effective consultant teacher. Using social networking sites including twitter are tools that will widen my circle of professional relationships and broaden my professional learning network. Having a PLN will deepen my content, pedagogical, and technical knowledge by acting as a tailored on-going professional development based on my interest, weakness, and strengths.
In addition to fashioning a PLN to pursue my missional goal of closing the achievement gap in urban schools, I have to consider three other crucial components for success as observed by Roselinde Torres. First, I have to anticipate change. The education system has changed drastically over the years, but yet nothing has truly changed. Punya Mishra describes a 21st Century educator and leader as one that not only anticipates change, but also creatively repurpose the tools available to make learning accessible and engaging to all.
One individual anticipating change is not as effective as a diverse group of people collaborating and predicting change which brings me to my next point. Successful leaders seek out and establish diverse networks. Roselinde shares how working with people that are different from me provides exposure to a different viewpoint that I otherwise not been privy to alone. Teaming up with a variety of people and sharing ideas will assist me in anticipating change from different angles. Working with others that are different than me is powerful because despite our differences we will work towards one shared goal.
The final crucial leadership component for me to embrace as I pursue my goal of closing the achievement gap in urban schools is to abandon the past. The idea of trying new things is a difficult idea to accept when you have had past success. Although trying new strategies is not easy, it is linked to anticipating change and is necessary in preparing and responding to change. One of my favorite quotes by John Dewey comes to mind when I don’t want to let go of past successful strategies. “If we teach today’s students as we taught yesterday’s, we rob them of tomorrow.” Knowing that my teaching and leadership strategies must continue to evolve for me to be effective, requires me to never stop learning. My five year plan would be incomplete if it didn’t include a list of resources I could use to increase my knowledge and build my confidence to abandon the past.
In addition to fashioning a PLN to pursue my missional goal of closing the achievement gap in urban schools, I have to consider three other crucial components for success as observed by Roselinde Torres. First, I have to anticipate change. The education system has changed drastically over the years, but yet nothing has truly changed. Punya Mishra describes a 21st Century educator and leader as one that not only anticipates change, but also creatively repurpose the tools available to make learning accessible and engaging to all.
One individual anticipating change is not as effective as a diverse group of people collaborating and predicting change which brings me to my next point. Successful leaders seek out and establish diverse networks. Roselinde shares how working with people that are different from me provides exposure to a different viewpoint that I otherwise not been privy to alone. Teaming up with a variety of people and sharing ideas will assist me in anticipating change from different angles. Working with others that are different than me is powerful because despite our differences we will work towards one shared goal.
The final crucial leadership component for me to embrace as I pursue my goal of closing the achievement gap in urban schools is to abandon the past. The idea of trying new things is a difficult idea to accept when you have had past success. Although trying new strategies is not easy, it is linked to anticipating change and is necessary in preparing and responding to change. One of my favorite quotes by John Dewey comes to mind when I don’t want to let go of past successful strategies. “If we teach today’s students as we taught yesterday’s, we rob them of tomorrow.” Knowing that my teaching and leadership strategies must continue to evolve for me to be effective, requires me to never stop learning. My five year plan would be incomplete if it didn’t include a list of resources I could use to increase my knowledge and build my confidence to abandon the past.
