Future Career Plans

First and foremost, I have always said that my ultimate goal is to be a great classroom teacher and the type of educator that other people point out to new teachers and say, “Watch her. You want to teach like her.” 
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For the next few years, I plan on continuing to focus on my classroom and integrating technology into my teaching. Because I teach so many content areas and I’m the only teacher in my “departments,” I have the ability to be creative and innovative when selecting innovations as I see fit.  High school students in GNETS programs frequently struggle with learning and self-efficacy and shut down, so anything I can do to get them engaged and interested is a major win. Some of my best successes in the past resulted from integrating technology, and I plan on using my knowledge of change to design and push some longer-term innovations, and potentially work with other educators to do so. I hope to earn a Teacher Leadership endorsement and act as a mentor. I would also like to take more of an active role in the professional development at my school and use my knowledge of change to increase adoption rates of the initiatives.
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When looking further out, I do see myself returning for more schooling and applying for the Doctor of Education program with a major in school improvement and an instructional technology concentration. Web accessibility is a passion of mine, and we must do a better job at creating opportunities for special education students to learn online and meeting their social and emotional needs.  At some point I would like to seek national board certification and gain more subject certifications until I become the educational equivalent of a Swiss army knife. I can’t see myself ever going into administration because my place is in the classroom, forming bonds with my students, installing a sense of wonder and curiosity and -- hopefully -- at least a little bit of learning.
My students are my past, my present, and my future.
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