What does this mean for me?
Many years ago, a colleague I admired retired with grace--that colleague focused her final years on lifting up the people around her and investing most of her energy into the students within her charge. I want to follow her lead.
Specifically that means I'll focus the final years of my career on the following efforts:
- creating a terrific learning environment for students
- working with grade level colleagues to develop a modern, effective, and engaging learning program that includes all students and results in promising growth and development
- continued study, focus, and implementation of the expected teaching programs and standards
- continued research and study related to program development including study of cognition, science/math teaching and learning, and innovative teaching/learning efforts.
When I walk out the door on my final day, I want to leave a classroom that another teacher can easily take over--one that only includes high quality teaching materials and resources. I also want to leave a strong team of teacher leaders who will continue to lead a strong, child-centered curriculum program.
I also don't want to leave education altogether, and I plan to begin honing my skills related to education-related political advocacy and writing. I also want to continue to engage in skills and interests in art, nature, and travel. As I build these skills now, I can also use them in conjunction with my work as an educator.
I have felt the tug to think about the last chapter of my career and how to map those years so that the work I do is of high quality and sensitive too. Onward.
