THE NEXT CHAPTER
Future Learning Goals Essay
Leading By Example
Leading by example is a cornerstone I have built my career on. I am dedicated to being a lifelong learner and try to instill that value in my students as well. I want them to know that learning doesn’t stop at adulthood. Leading by example has served as a guiding principle of the coursework I have selected in the Master of Arts in Education program at Michigan State University. It has also given me the confidence to pursue three future goals after graduation: to continue to grow my professional skillset, to incorporate technology in my everyday practice, and to be a leader in advocating for the needs of students with chronic illness.
Goal 1: Continue Growing My Professional Skillset
Over the past year, I have chosen to grow and learn through the completion of graduate work. As a professional, however, there is still so much that can be done to further enhance my skills as a teacher and a leader. One way I can lead by example is by taking advantage of opportunities where I can learn more about who I am as an educator and as a professional. To do this, I plan to start taking courses offered by the Center for Professional Growth at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. These courses, which range from professional skills workshops to more advanced training like the Professional Excellence Program will afford me the opportunity to better myself so that I can be more effective in my everyday practice. To be a leader, I need to act like one. And to act as a leader I need more guidance on my skills that need to be further developed. Enrolling in these workshops and programs is a step in that direction.
Goal 2: Incorporate Technology into My Everyday Practice
Another way I can lead by example is to recognize how much technology impacts education and to continue to learn ways to implement it effectively. This goal became abundantly clear to me in my current position where the majority of students I work with miss a tremendous amount of school each year due to their chronic health conditions. I cannot change that they miss school, but I can help them become more connected through technology. Since the majority of the students I work with come from districts who use the Google Suite for Education, I would like to become a Certified Google Educator. The Google for Education Teacher Center has training that will give me the tools I need to work through the course material and take the performance exam to become a certified Google Educator. My plan is to complete this training and coursework and to take the exam for certification as a Level 1 Google Educator within two months of graduation. This will give me the foundation of skills I need to proficiently teach using Google tools and integrate technology solutions so the students I work with can engage remotely as members of their classroom communities.
Goal 3: Continued Advocacy for Students with Chronic Illness
Finally, continuing to advocate for the needs of the students I work with is another way I aim to lead by example. It is important to me that others in the field of education are cognizant of the needs of students with chronic illness, not just in the classroom setting, but throughout the course of their educational careers. One way I have started to be an advocate is through membership in the Hospital Educator and Academic Liaison Association (HEAL). Membership in HEAL has helped expand my professional network with others across the country who serve similar populations of students. Together, we have been able to integrate into interdisciplinary teams within our home hospitals to advocate for the academic and social/emotional needs of our students as part of their treatment plan. But I want to do more. Within the next two years, I plan to continue being an advocate for this population of students by submitting abstracts to present at conferences like the New Jersey Education Association (NJEA) National Convention and the Sickle Cell Disease Association of America (SCDAA) National Convention. I want to share my unique knowledge of working with students in a healthcare setting with school personnel so that I can encourage more collaboration and advocacy from all.
Staying the Course
It’s hard to imagine that my journey toward earning a master’s degree is coming to an end. What is not hard to imagine, though, is how the three goals I have set forth will help me to continue my path toward being a lifelong learner who leads by example. This realization makes me feel like the real journey is just beginning.