Sunday, October 04, 2015

Teacher Leadership Initiative: First Face to Face Meeting

The Teacher Leadership Competencies are a valuable
resource for any professional educator.
Our Teacher Leadership (TLI) Cohort III has met via online mediums, but today was our first chance to meet face-to-face.

Local MTA leaders as well as NEA leaders met with us to learn more about the TLI effort and expectations.

I was happy to meet the many dedicated educators who signed on to this initiative. I was impressed with the many ways they've contributed to teaching well in their local systems, unions, and community--an admirable group.

I was also impressed to learn that the NEA was responsible for the GI bill and so many other terrific teaching/learning policies and initiatives over time. At some time I want to watch these films to learn more about a Union I've belonged to for thirty years, a Union dedicated to social justice.

We took a deep look at the impressive Teacher Leadership Competencies, competencies which I believe are both worthy and challenging competencies that I feel every teacher should study and use as they develop their professional skill, craft, and contribution.

Time was also spent learning about the capstone project expectations, the portfolio site, Pathbrite, we'll use to publish the capstones, and future dates, study, and learning opportunities.

It was a well-planned, thoughtfully executed day of professional learning, one that will serve to boost my professional skill and delivery. It's worth taking the time to study the websites, periodicals, newsletters, and opportunities offered by the associations you belong too. I'm grateful that our local union, The MTA, and the National Education Association (NEA) offer valuable professional learning opportunities like this one.