I want to be an instructional coach.
It’s taken me several years and learning from different people to realize the reason why I always felt my own classroom wasn’t enough for me. Ever since I worked with a coach and started learning about literacy coaching I’ve been drawn to that area in education. I have always found joy in seeing curriculum come to life in classrooms and the different ways teachers can shape lessons to help students achieve goals.
Working at CAC has challenged me in ways I only thought of a few times, and the people I have had the chance to learn from have helped me see where my heart really jumps: coaching. I truly love being part of conversations about the purpose behind certain teaching moves, strategies, and student progress. Working with other teachers it’s something I have always enjoyed and I feel that, when I confine myself to my classroom or grade level, I am only doing half of what I wish I could do.
After 4 years developing curriculum and practices in Kindergarten, I feel ready to take on a bigger risk and seek for opportunities that will help me become the leader I want to be. Not someone who wishes to define the steps to follow, but someone who can help others build and improve their practice by looking at student work and collaborating. I believe that “adding more” to schools isn’t always the answer, but to make what they already have better and more meaningful. All I learned from Ochan Powell at the Cognitive CoachingSM seminars, sounded like the job I knew would not feel like a job but rather a hobby.
In January 2013 I went to a conference in Sao Paulo, the host school had all these messages painted on their walls and I thought many were funny but also very inspiring. At that conference I got to meet Will Richardson and hear him speak about the problem with schools today. His words resonated with me for many years, and I have always felt like I’m about to start something for myself but I’m not quite ready yet. I’ve felt that way for 5 years, that just sounds stupid and like a bunch of excuses.
“Jabari Jumps” has become one of my favorite read aloud books. It’s a wonderful story of fear, patience, support, and seeing risks as surprises. This week I’m feeling a bit like Jabari on the edge of the diving board, not quite confident but looking forward to some surprises once I jump.
End of rant. Cheers.
Start with a Story 