Goal

=Goal =

Many years ago, I penned my personal metaphor of teaching:

“To teach is to mold. Each day or our lives, whether we want to or not, we are shaping and molding others. As teachers, we have chosen to daily model to young people. Good, bad, or indifferent, we are shaping their lives. Maybe we will not see the results today or tomorrow, but some day our influence will show up in their lives. To me, this is the most exciting part of teaching and the scariest. Knowing how much influence I will have over these young lives because I will be molding them-and their future.”

Since that day, several hundred students passed through my classroom. I added more certifications to my repertory and transitioned from classroom instructor to reading coach. Through it all, my teaching metaphor has not changed.

To teach is to mold. My goal has always been teaching. The addition of this master’s degree does not change my final goal, which is still teaching. My top priority as a classroom teacher was molding the young people in my classroom. Science, math, social studies happened to be the instrument that I use, but the ultimate goal was to mold them into life-long learners and our future leaders. With the transition to reading coach, I was charged with the humbling task of working with the dream molders.

On some levels, teachers are just as unsure of themselves as our young charges and asking for modification of a teaching style is a challenge. Four years as a reading coach has shown me that I need the same skills with teachers as students. Whether I am working with science, math, social studies, or reading teachers, the ultimate goal is still to create a desire for life-long learning.

My immediate goal is to continue my education with an eye to a collegiate position. As I stated in my original purpose statement the trend is for non-traditional students to enter the teaching profession. These students are busy professionals juggling families, full-time work, and college course. They do not have the luxury of traveling to a university for classes. My ultimate goal is to create a virtual classroom incorporating videos, games, virtual fieldtrips, and dynamic discussions for these pre-professional teachers while continuing to research student reading motivation.

Not coincidentally, the key skills for a successful professor (whether face-to-face or online) match the competencies of this program.

This portfolio is a work in progress. As I continue in Clay County Schools and UF, this document will grow to display, the skills and experience I can provide to a collegiate faculty.