Oh the Places We Can Grow!

Every teacher will not remain in the classroom teaching groups of students for 30 years and then retire. I would guess that most teachers will not. I wish I could say that I intentionally chose the path I have taken in education but I did not. It happened by chance for me and it can happen on purpose for you!

I have been reflecting on professional experiences that have made me an amazing educator, a mindful responsive coach and a master developer and facilitator of professional learning. My unofficial first move, let's call it the "0" move, is learning to say you are good. It is okay to acknowledge that you are amazing at your work. You can do this and at the same time recognize that you are on a learning journey. I say this for my own heart. I am learning to accept that I am very good at what I do and that it is okay to say so! (hope that helps somebody) Here are 5 moves I unintentionally made that have set me up well for different stages of my professional success:

Who you choose to work for matters: Choose Well

I graduated from NCCU and went to work for Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools. At the time one of my professors said "If you can work in CMS, you will be able to work anywhere. It is a beast of a district." I had no idea what they meant. I was following love and friendship to Charlotte. My professors were right. CMS was an innovative district that was committed to developing educators. The district leadership followed current research and collaborated with other large districts across the nation, which presented rich opportunities for growth and development at no cost. The organization you choose to work for matters. A few considerations to get you started:

• Research the district and learn what they care about and how they are developing their teaching staff. Most districts have some sort of district plan outlined by the superintendent. (Small and large districts have unique experiences to offer it is not about the size is about the innovation and leadership vision)

• Are they engaged in research with local colleges in the area you will be serving? (Check with local colleges to learn about partnerships)

The leader you work for matters: Choose Well

I thank God for the leaders I have worked under. I did not choose all of them. and that is grace y'all... it is also a totally different post! There are a few things these leaders all had in common that I now look for in all of my partners.

• Research your school and the school's leader. Are they known for innovating? (to know this you have to be plugged in to what's happening in education as well... I will get to this later)

• Work for a leader who has a clear plan for growing and developing educators in the building. (What opportunities will you have in that building to increase your knowledge of content and the art of leading?)

• Look for a leader who expects that you will grow and evolve and advance beyond that building one day, should you choose. One of the hardest things I encountered in education was a situation where a leader did not want to "let the educator go because they were so strong". The leader did not have a place for the educator to grow into and instead of supporting the next step, they tried to hold on to the person for their own gain. Be open with leaders and work with leaders who have a system of "building the bench."

• Look for leaders who hold staff accountable, roll up their sleeves to get in the work of the building and have a clear system for coaching. You will not be a great educator if you are not challenged. If all your leader can tell you is that you are great, you need a bigger pond to swim in. They may be wonderful people, but you will not grow under this type of leadership. Growth = transferable skills = opportunities = choices

• Work for a leader who values your growth. When you are developed and learn skills from spaces other than your home district, the entire organization gets better! If they cannot send you out to learn from others, ask who they plan to be brining in enhance your exposure and grow your craft.

Join outside organizations

After three years of teaching I joined a professional learning community of math PD facilitators through TERC®. This opportunity was tied to a math curriculum. If you choose to do summer work with a curriculum organization make sure their training and development is aligned with best practices and current research. TERC® was amazing and there are others. Illustrative Mathematics was wonderful, Amplify has strong math thinkers in its camp, Imagine Learning is forward thinking, Better Lessons has strong asynchronous training materials and there are so many others. You learn about these organizations at conferences. My next point...

Attend conferences

As a teacher I was not invited to do this much and to be honest I did not know what conferences were or why I should attend. Conferences feature latest practices and research in the field. They showcase what is possible, normalize challenges, offer solutions and showcase current innovations. Expand what you know by attending. There are scholarships that will cover registration for some conferences and sometimes your travel as well. There are lists like this one on the internet of educational conferences that take place across the nation. Find them and get to one! (While attending think about where the work you are doing might fit amongst the presentations... Yes! Imagine yourself sharing your experiences in those spaces. There is room for you at the table.)

Find Community

If all of the educators in your circle teach in your district, at your level or in your school, you need to expand your circle. Instagram is vast and LinkedIN is open and available. Use them professionally. Follow educators and organizations that challenge your beliefs and stretch your practice. Listen to podcasts and read blogs. Research educators who are mentioned in blogs and podcasts and, follow them! Use social media to connect with them. This can also happen locally. Check out Friends of Flynn and the Math Coach Connection if you need a starting place.

I don't have all the answers but I have a wealth of experiences to draw from. I continue to take my own advice. If any of these ideas have been on your mind, I hope this helps. Do your research then act. Don't perseverate too long before taking action. Your next steps await! Happy end of the year educator friends. See you again soon.

-Kaneka