I've been thinking a lot lately about my professional journey, well not so much about the path that has been taken, but what's in store for me next. But let's start at the beginning.
I always wanted to be a teacher. I thought about becoming an accountant for a few months in high school because I love mathematics and heard the pay was really good :) but after taking an accounting course in high school, I knew that I would be bored out of my mind.
I graduated from HS in 1987 and attended Howard University in Washington DC on a full academic scholarship to study Elementary Education. See, I actually went to school for education, it was not a career change. I graduated from Howard U in 1991 and was accepted into the Teachers College Masters Program for Mathematics Education. Yes, I was still interested in pursuing mathematics....but...when I saw the tuition for Teacher's College I decided that instead of going straight to grad school I would seek a teaching job. I was fortunate to find a job in the Roosevelt School District under the leadership of Charles McIlwain. Here's a glimpse into that experience that was published in ASCD, 2013.
Fresh out of Howard University, I was eager to begin teaching, not fully aware of the complexities of working with pre-adolescents, parents, and colleagues. There were nights I went home questioning my chosen profession. But with the unfailing support and encouraging words I received daily from my principal, Charles McIlwain, I survived my first year. His guiding philosophy was rooted in the belief that you must first be able to connect with students before you can teach them. He took time to mentor you educators and treated us like consummate professionals even when we struggled. Now that I am an assistant principal, Mr. McIlwain's legacy continues to influence my interactions with students, parents, and teachers.
I began grad school in my second year of teaching and studied Instructional Technology at New York Institute of Technology. I completed that program in 1995 and the following year I entered a dual admin leadership/doctoral program at Hofstra University. Earning a doctoral degree was next on my list as a personal goal after being inspired by the African American doctoral students that graduated from Howard University in 1991 (*I never knew that a doctoral degree was something that someone like me could earn).
I earned my administrative certification in 1998, the same year my first son was born. In the summer of 2000 I decided to pursue my first administrative position. Unfortunately there were limited opportunities in Roosevelt SD so I began to look outside of that district. I landed my first administrative position as an elementary AP in the Uniondale School District in 2000. I had a 2 year old son, I was in a doctoral program AND I was split between 2 elementary schools in the district. Talk about the number of hats I had to wear on a daily basis! Doctoral studies were challenging, but I took the slow and steady route (aka the 8 year plan) and accomplished my goal! Oh and by the way, I had my second son while completing my studies and working full time.
As you can imagine, the last thing on my mind was seeking a new job with young children and doctoral work. When I completed my doctoral studies in 2006, I needed a minute, more like a year or two to just breathe and enjoy my post-doctorate life with my family. I did not want the added pressure of becoming a new principal and having to put in extra hours of work just to prove myself at a new job. My children were young and I wanted to be involved in their school life as much as possible and I knew that I could balance so much more as a tenured Elementary AP than a non-tenured Principal. For the last 10 years, I've been actively involved in my children's elementary, middle, and high school PTAs, attended school trips with them, concerts, reading celebrations, etc. all because I was comfortable and secure in my position as AP!
Now that my youngest son is finished with elementary school and my oldest is a junior in high school, I've been asking myself - is it my time to pursue something else? The answer is always Yes...and No! No - because I still love the comfort and security of being a tenured elementary AP. But Yes, because I have so much to offer and share with the greater educational community, not just my school/district. Maybe I can consult or teach a college course? I enjoy being part of professional learning communities and being a connected educator. I have been inspired by my #ptcamp experience (see previous blogs) and I've been able to share my insight via Twitter chats and conferences such as #edcampLI and the upcoming NABSE - National Alliance of Black School Educators - conference in November. These experiences keep me motivated.
This is my 24th year as a professional educator and I still get asked why I haven't sought a principalship. The truth is I just haven't felt like it. I'm having fun, I'm learning, I'm making a difference in the lives of children and I don't really need another title or new job to continue those things. I love my balanced life and I don't wish to add anything that will upset it.
What's your story - what choices have you made and what choices are you considering? Are your choices personal or made due to pressure and the expectations of others? I'd love to hear from you - please share your professional journey as well as your next steps.
Thanks to MAStewartMA.blogspot.com for inspiring this post!nded my first administrative position as an elementary AP in the Uniondale School District in 2000. I had a 2 year old son, I was in a doctoral program AND I was split between 2 elementary schools in the district. Talk about the number of hats I had to wear on a daily basis! Doctoral studies were challenging, but I took the slow and steady route (aka the 8 year plan) and accomplished my goal! Oh and by the way, I had my second son while completing my studies and working full time.
As you can imagine, the last thing on my mind was seeking a new job with young children and doctoral work. When I completed my doctoral studies in 2006, I needed a minute, more like a year or two to just breathe and enjoy my post-doctorate life with my family. I did not want the added pressure of becoming a new principal and having to put in extra hours of work just to prove myself at a new job. My children were young and I wanted to be involved in their school life as much as possible and I knew that I could balance so much more as a tenured Elementary AP than a non-tenured Principal. For the last 10 years, I've been actively involved in my children's elementary, middle, and high school PTAs, attended school trips with them, concerts, reading celebrations, etc. all because I was comfortable and secure in my position as AP!
Now that my youngest son is finished with elementary school and my oldest is a junior in high school, I've been asking myself - is it my time to pursue something else? The answer is always Yes...and No! No - because I still love the comfort and security of being a tenured elementary AP. But Yes, because I have so much to offer and share with the greater educational community, not just my school/district. Maybe I can consult or teach a college course? I enjoy being part of professional learning communities and being a connected educator. I have been inspired by my #ptcamp experience (see previous blogs) and I've been able to share my insight via Twitter chats and conferences such as #edcampLI and the upcoming NABSE - National Alliance of Black School Educators - conference in November. These experiences keep me motivated.
This is my 24th year as a professional educator and I still get asked why I haven't sought a principalship. The truth is I just haven't felt like it. I'm having fun, I'm learning, I'm making a difference in the lives of children and I don't really need another title or new job to continue those things. I love my balanced life and I don't wish to add anything that will upset it.
What's your story - what choices have you made and what choices are you considering? Are your choices personal or made due to pressure and the expectations of others? I'd love to hear from you - please share your professional journey as well as your next steps.
Thanks to MAStewartMA.blogspot.com for inspiring this post!
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