TL;DR:
- Grow your professional competencies beyond your classroom walls by supporting new teachers, contributing to team meetings, and joining district initiatives.
- Offer guidance to new staff, share resources with peers, and seek out leadership roles even without the formal title.
- Stretch your professional edges by actively seeking opportunities for growth in your school and district.
While I was getting dynamic stretching sessions at the gym in the summer, I came upon this blog title. I have long been a proponent of reaching beyond the four walls of your classroom to grow your professional competencies. Growth extends beyond just serving on (often mandated) committees at your school. These ways are being a leader, even if it’s not in your job title.
Building Support
What are ways you’ve been helping new teachers in your building? Have they come to you with questions on how to set up their gradebooks, curriculum questions or ask about other building/district-related resources? Perhaps discuss the possibility of offering a “welcome package” or be in charge of a welcome committee to new staff, whether they start at the traditional beginning of the school year or other times during the year when open slots need to be filled.
Helping New Staff
What are ways you’re helping to lead during your grade-level team meeting or PLC? Are you providing resources? What are those resources? Who do less experienced teachers go to when they have questions about the curriculum or common assessments? Are you someone who is not only organized but has a wealth of experience teaching your content and who can give advice on what works and doesn’t work during instruction?
District Support
Stretching your professional edges can also be participating in district-wide committees or initiatives. Would you consider being part of a committee that helps promote equitable practices district-wide? Or a committee that’s looking into curricular adoption/resources for your subject area? Sometimes, opportunities to serve on these committees come in weekly newsletters from the superintendent. Sometimes they may come from a district-level director over your content area. Be on the lookout for these opportunities. They are ways you can have your voice heard and have a say in how your colleagues may be supported in the future.
[scroll down to keep reading]
Opportunities Abound!
No matter the type of professional edge you want to stretch this year, seek out opportunities to do so. These don’t always tend to fall in your lap, but if you show you are a leader in your school community, you may be recognized more often as someone who is able to provide support in the areas of school or district needs. These chances to expand your professional reach will help you gain valuable experience outside the walls of your classroom. So go out there and seek out your professional growth opportunities this year!
About Dana Goodier
Dr. Dana Goodier has 23 years of experience in education. She has taught World Languages and English and worked as a middle school administrator. She completed her doctorate degree (Ed.D.) in Educational Leadership early 2020. For her dissertation, she researched reasons parents were opting their students out of high-stakes testing at middle schools and how that affected the district accreditation rating.
She often speaks at conferences, providing educators with techniques to minimize off-task behavior and to increase time on task. Goodier is the host of the “Out of the Trenches” podcast, which features educators who share their stories of resiliency. She is also the author of the book, “Out of the Trenches: Stories of Resilient Educators.”
Follow her on Twitter @danagoodier and visit her website at: www.danagoodier.com
