Over the Bridge, on with my Travels
During the spring of 2011 I found myself finishing up my second year of teaching at a Title I school, just outside of Washington, D.C. I had recently sent out my application in hopes of being accepted into the Master of Arts in Education program through Michigan State University. As I waited for acceptance, I found myself looking back on the experience I had my previous year. My first year as an elementary school teacher consisted of housing forty students, many with severe behavior issues, in a self contained classroom. With limited resources, varying levels of abilities, and language barriers, this was a tough task for anyone. That initial year definitely made me stronger and more aware of the reality of the profession. It also encouraged me to want to explore what other avenues the field of education had to offer.
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With hopes of expanding my repertoire I made the choice to work towards my master's degree. Since moving away from home, I was fairly new to Maryland and it was only my second year having a classroom to call my own. Leaving my hometown in Michigan in order to start my teaching career was a tough decision, but I feel it helped me to find myself. Starting off in a county where I had little background knowledge of the real life issues facing teachers was intimidating, but not impossible. Right from the start I truly wanted to grow and develop as a well versed professional in my field. I wanted to learn about new ways to push and engage my students while taking on more leadership roles within the school. The MAED program allowed me to do just that, all while interacting with other skilled individuals within education.
As I reach the end of my graduate program, I am starting to realize just how far I have come. Looking at the present, I am entering into my fifth year of teaching and my school has just been granted a technology refresh. Teachers have new laptops, Interwrite Boards, and Mobi Views. I am continuing on with my role in the School Improvement Team, as I work to collaborate on decisions that meet the needs of staff and students. My original goal of developing my academic background will be fulfilled with my new degree, but my learning will never come to an end. With the knowledge I have gained from the program, I feel even more confident as a teacher. As I move forward into a different chapter in my life, I look forward to continuing to implement my newly acquired skills within a professional learning community.