Future Learning Goals

A Purposeful Path

As I reflect on my education and experiences thus far, I am forever grateful to the students, teachers, educators, peers, and mentors I have had along the way. From being a student myself now for over twenty years, I am incredibly excited to step into my next journey and continue my learning outside of the classroom. Although I will not be formally conducting coursework, I will be applying all that I have learned throughout the years to my position as Dean and hopefully, one day, as a Principal. 

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While on my educational leadership path, I plan to focus my attention on intentional implementation of staff and student needs. I plan to do this by continuing to implement best practices around classroom differentiation, community engagement, and leadership and administration. All of these items I have begun to study and implement from my learning at Michigan State University, and I would like to continue learning, growing, and excelling in the fields mentioned above, as I believe that is what’s best for all students and educators in our world today. 

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To plan and prepare for my continued education and goals, I would like to make a personal goal for myself to read and study literature regarding my subjects of interest.

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Classroom Differentiation

Making Differentiation a Habit: How to Ensure Success in Academically Diverse Classrooms

Written by Diane Heacox Ed.D

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Framed around critical elements for success in academically diverse environments, this book gives educators specific, user-friendly tools to optimize teaching, learning, and assessment. This book also offers new ideas, fresh perspectives, and additional research-based strategies designed to help teachers seamlessly integrate differentiation practices into their daily routines. What I am most excited about for this reading is the immediate implementation that can be done with teachers, as it offers a wealth of practical and specific tools, templates, and checklists. 

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Community Engagement

Building School-Community Partnerships: Collaboration for Student Success

Written by Mavis G. Sanders

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Community involvement is incredibly important for effective school functioning, student support and well-being, and community health and development. This book serves as an excellent resource for educators seeking to establish school-community partnerships to achieve goals for their schools and the students, families, and communities they serve. Schools can collaborate with a wide variety of community partners to obtain the resources they need to achieve important goals for students’ learning.

 

Other People's Children: Cultural Conflict in the Classroom

Written by Lisa Delpit

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After studying contemporary classrooms, Lisa Delpit shares ways teachers can be better “cultural transmitters” in the classroom, where prejudice, stereotypes, and cultural assumptions breed ineffective education. Delpit suggests that many academic problems attributed to children of color are actually the result of miscommunication, as primarily white teachers and “other people’s children” struggle with the imbalance of power and the dynamics plaguing our system. I think this work is important and something I would want to share with my staff.

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The Dreamkeepers: Successful Teachers of African American Children

Written by Gloria Ladson-Billings

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I read the first edition of Ladson-Billings work when I was studying my undergrad at Grand Valley. I am excited to read the second edition and see where students and teachers are at now, and what solutions were found to be the most beneficial and profound. In her books, Ladson-Billings shows us that culturally relevant teaching is not a matter of race, gender, or teaching style. What matters most is a teacher's efforts to work with the unique strengths a child brings to the classroom.

 

Leadership & Administration

The Energy Bus: 10 Rules to Fuel Your Life, Work, and Team with Positive Energy

Written by Jon Gordon

 

This book is all about mindset and positive energy. It reminds us that each day we all have a choice about what our attitude and outlook will be. In addition, it lays out 10 secrets to leading your staff in a productive and positive direction. We will be studying this book this summer during a Leadership Summit for National Heritage Academies. I am interested in how once we shift our attitudes and mindset, we can encourage and coach others to do the same.

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Fish!: A Proven Way to Boost Morale and Improve Results

Written by Stephen C. Lundin PhD, John Christensen, Harry Paul, & Ken Blanchard

 

This book was recommended to me this year, and I began to read it during the COVID-19 pandemic. I would like to finish the book and continue to implement the simple strategies to bring fun into the school building! The book is filled with inspiration and wisdom and uses the lessons to showcase strengthening personal relationships, and to live with greater purpose and happiness.