personal & professional learning
One of the most important factors in establishing a culture of collaboration is having a shared vision. The practice of working towards a common goal in support of students helps to maintain a feeling of purpose as well as a moral imperative and professional responsibility between educators on a school campus. For me, collaboration is a key component in my own learning both as a professional as well as personally. I am at my best when I feel like I am working in a team towards a common goal. The understanding that no one person can do it all is the basis for my work both as a teacher as well as an instructional leader. We learn best when it is from each other and that, in a nutshell, is the reason for the creation of this blog. It is the virtual embodiment of my vision of a place in which like-minded teachers can learn together, and inspire and support one another. I have been very lucky over the course of my career to have benefitted from teachers willing to share their practice with me. It is now my mission to pay it forward.
supporting teachers to improve practice
As a teacher and an instructional leader, I believe in the power of personal and professional learning through collaboration. Therefore, it is important to me to always find a way to support teachers with their practice. To do that, I believe in the idea of shared resources at your fingertips whether they be materials found online, lesson plans, pictures, and/or great ideas shared on blogs such as this one. As a result, Tales of a Second Grade Workaholic is my way of supporting teachers by being brave in sharing my teaching practices with others. To throw open the virtual door of my classroom and welcome in teachers who are like me-just trying to make a difference in the lives of kids. Without a collective courage to share ideas, try without the promise of success, and reflect on mistakes, our practice cannot/will not improve. So, I am starting with me and, hopefully, the successes and failures I make will empower others to open their doors as well.
managing organizational systems & human resources
As a leader at my school site, the recognition that personal and professional biases exist in any organization is an important aspect of leading professional learning. Within schools, these biases have the potential to be disastrous but, when channeled towards the greater good, bias can also be viewed as partiality, favoritism, and influence. In my classroom and my school, I am biased. I am biased towards the advancement and achievement of my students. I am partial to their success. I show favoritism in that ways in which I tailor learning to suit their individual needs and the influence that I have over the lives of my kids is an awesome responsibility that I take very seriously. Therefore, it is crucial that both negative and positive biases be acknowledged and addressed. Understanding negative biases that exist within any organization is the key to combating it. Bias spun in the right direction by a school leader can be a powerful and inspirational motivator and as an instructional leader that is the heart of what I do and why I do it.
reflective practice
Reflective practices are an integral component of any professional learning model. However, introspection can be scary. It is the acknowledgment that we don't have all of the answers and that we are not perfect. It takes grit and gumption to honestly reflect on one's own practice. It also requires faith; especially in the face of new initiatives, teaching practices, standards of instruction, etc. to step out of one's own comfort zone into the unknown. In my role as an instructional leader, I have to be brave enough to reflect on my practice because not only does it influence the students I teach, it demonstrates a willingness to be vulnerable on a public stage to the teachers I work with. I can't ask those I work with to be reflective if I'm not willing to do it myself. I can't expect self review to influence teaching strategies in others if it doesn't shape my own professional growth. It is for this reason that I choose to lead by example. To model reflection in my own practice so that I may grow and change along with the adults and students I support.