Conclusion

When I think about how much I have grown since my first year of teaching, it is quite amazing. While colleges and student teaching experiences help in trying to prepare teachers for the classroom, nothing can prepare you like experience. Over the years, experience has been a great teacher for me, but I have also learned that when you combine experience with reflection and new learning through focused classes, that learning grows exponentially.

One of the largest areas of growth for me throughout this degree process has been finding even more value in professional reading. I have always been interested in reading content area books and strategy-based texts, but I have found that books about educational philosophies are just as important to read professionally. Sometimes a mindset or shift in belief can make a huge difference in your success.

Another area of growth for me throughout this process has been the expansion of my leadership impact. I have been a teacher leader for the past three years, and I know I have had a positive impact before beginning my master’s degree journey, but I feel that the classes that I have taken and the research process that I participated in has helped me to push myself even more to realize my leadership potential. They say the most learning occurs outside of your comfort zone, and I am a firm believer in this being true.

I have learned a lot in this educational journey and while I am a little sad that it is over, I know that I will be taking everything I have learned with me to apply to my next challenge. Every day is something new, and I feel better prepared to move forward with my career and hopefully lead others along the way because of this educational experience.