As I reflect, I think about my class this year. In my three years of teaching, I must say this group was by far my most favorite. Do not get me wrong, I have love and cared for every student in each of my classes over the past few years; however, this group was AMAZING! Anyone who truly knows me, know I have had challenging classes my first two years, especially last year's group. This group I must say grew so much. They cared and I cared and that was a beautiful thing. I could have authentic conversations with them and they felt they could come to me. Now make no mistake, they really could make me upset at times, and I have even been disappointed in them a few times this year; however, they made me remember why I went into teaching. I think about the last day of school and how our last class meeting we analyzed the song "Meant to Be" by TLC. It was so funny how excited I was for the last day of school; however, I was told by one of the staff members who monitors a school bus many of my students ride that my kids began to cry when leaving the school including my one student who has so much potential and sometimes lets his anger get in the way. This child never cries in front of people. That spoke volumes to me.
My class was awesome, but before the school year began I think back to last summer. There is a theme that each summer I spend my time in Professional Development and learning about instructional strategies, trends, and hot topics in education. One of the most awesome experiences was ISTE 2014. I got to meet some really great people and attend some awesome sessions. However, the power of networking at that particular conferences and learning from others in a very transactional way helped increase my instructional strategies and practices. This conference also helped me to see the value in presenting at a conference and one person (she knows who she is) gave me the motivation needed to speak at one. I gave my first conference presentation at GaETC 2014.
While these were some highlights of this year, I also reflect on the moments in which I never thought this school year would end. This school year was my final two semester of my Master's program. With that being said, I am going to be honest...I did not have time for foolishness. As a told someone else, this school year I became much more upset with a few adults than what I did children. Because this is my calling and my passion, I do not take working with children or their education lightly. I felt this year a few adults that I had to work with were so engaged in their own agenda and did not respect the profession of teaching as well being of the children. That was extremely bothersome!
What I have learned this year is that, while storms by come, trouble don't last always. If you read my last post, you learned I did not get accepted into my Ed.D. program for Curriculum and Instruction. When I first found out, I was deeply upset. However, I found out what held me back and I also started to look on the bright side...God's timing. God was setting me up for where I needed to be and not where I wanted to be. Last week, God allowed me to transition from being a Classroom Teacher to an Instructional Technology Coach. I have a lot of learning to do this summer and I realize that school would have not been conducive at this current moment because I would have been starting my doctoral program tomorrow. That is a quick turn around and break is needed to learn my new role.
To an extent, I felt like I have rambled long enough. I have said a lot to say that this year has been an interesting one. From having the best class I ever had, going to ISTE 2014, and presenting at my first conference to dealing with people who do not care about education, feeling overworked, and feeling work, this school year has been a time. But recent events like graduating with my Master's, finding out I will be attending ISTE 2015, finishing this school year, going to Discovery Education Network Summer Institute 2015 in July, getting a promotion, and just thinking about my students has proven that we all go through trials to help us develop into a better person. I thank God for that!