Milestones
My road in life took a while to figure out.
I first knew I wanted to be a teacher when I started first grade.
I always asked to help the teacher and volunteered for any tutoring or assistant 'jobs'.
I watched and listened during classes to notice what worked and what didn't work.
I became a camp counselor in the summer during high school. I found out that teaching is HARD!
I majored in Psychology in college because my mother did not approve of my becoming a teacher!
I took a job working with severely intellectually disabled adults in a group home. Teaching!
I took other jobs for a few years, to see if maybe working in an office was fun. I was miserable.
Then I went to graduate school to earn an M.Ed. I knew I'd be unhappy unless I was teaching.
Education
High School
Career
Special Education Team Chair
I coordinate special education evaluations and school services in a large public elementary school.
Career Roadmap
My work combines:
My work combines:
Education
Writing
Teaching / Mentoring
Day to Day
On most days I will speak with many different teachers either during impromptu discussions or formal meetings to discuss best methods to teach particular students, based on the students' needs. I may have one to three meetings with teams of teachers, school psychologists, parents and others to review student evaluations designed to show their learning strengths and weaknesses. We then decide whether a student needs extra help and what that extra instruction will be.
Advice for Getting Started
Here's the first step for middle school students
A middle school student who thinks they want to be a teacher should begin by improving their reading and writing skills, as well as learning grammar at a precise level. Without that, you will always struggle with the curriculum you teach. Secondly, begin talking to your teachers about their jobs. Ask if you can help with any tasks. Finally, become a tutor, a classroom aide, or an assistant in any group. Make sure you ask your 'students' and the teacher for feedback.
Recommended Education
My career is related to what I studied. I'd recommend the path I took:
Hurdles
The Noise I Shed
From Parents:
"You are not going to be a teacher. That's for people who don't have other options."
Challenges I Overcame
Changing expecatations
