Although I am finishing up my Master of Arts in Education Administration program from Michigan State University, my journey as a lifelong learner has just begun. In choosing to be an administrator, one is choosing a career path that requires the pursuit of lifelong learning. The field of pedagogy is constantly evolving with new ideas and advancements in technology, and administrators need to be ahead of the curve. Change is inevitable and the only way for administrators to stay informed is to constantly be seeking ways to continue learning and professional development. As an administrator, the areas of learning that I am most interested to continue into my career include, technology integration in the classroom, leadership in education, and leading teacher learning.

Technology in the classroom has significantly transformed in the four years of my teaching career. My first year of teaching, I was the only teacher in my building to be given an iPod. By my fourth year, I was learning how to teach a classroom with a 1:1 integration of Chromebooks and beginning my journey going paperless. This quick progression over a short time span is exactly why I have a strong desire to continue my education in technology integration. Learning about advances will be on-going with the constant change of technology, but to begin will require a combination of research and application. Hanover Research 2014 provides an overview of technology integration including why it is important to continue professional development and best practices. The next step is exploring resources that can be used in the classroom. I have found that the most current resource for finding information about technology, is not in books, but rather technology itself. The Edudemic website is one of many resources for teachers to learn how to integrate technology into the classroom. Lastly, my plan would be to integrate and put into practice the methods that I believe to be successful in the classroom and then reflect with teachers following. To do this last step would require teachers to implement said practices into their classrooms.

Advancing new technology in within a school requires the help of teachers. Teachers respond well to administrators they respect. Therefore, my next priority in furthering my learning is leadership in education. This is extremely important to me because to be a good administrator, you need the respect and support of your staff at all times. Pursuing leadership development requires both individual study through professional development, as well as honest communication and feedback from teachers. The National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP) Wallace webinar series on School Leadership in Action: Principal Practices, includes videos that feature the five best practices of effective principals. Being a mindful person is also something that I hope to learn more about through the book, The Mindful School Leader: Practices to Transform your Leadership and School, by Valerie Brown and Kirsten Olson. Lastly, getting feedback from teachers would be a constant priority to maintain open lines of communication to be effective in leadership. Continuing personal learning is a priority, but leading teacher learning is an equally difficult and important task as an administrator.

The time that teachers have outside of teaching time is already very limited. Therefore, the professional development should be very thought out and purposeful. Teachers are more willing to participate and give their full attention to professional development when they know their time is respected, they know both themselves and their students will benefit, and it will be practical and easy to apply to their classrooms daily. To build strong learning communities within the school, I hope to study and implement more Professional Learning Communities to help enhance the implementation of professional development and best practices, as well as give support as teachers are learning and transitioning. There is so much to be said for following through and giving teachers the support they need to be successful.

Although these resources are just a few of many, they are the starting point to continue a pursuit of lifelong learning in the field of education administration. By taking measures to pursue a life of learning, I am choosing to pursue a commitment to being the best leader I can be. I hope to find the best ways to integrate technology into the classroom to help students achieve higher goals and help teachers become more effective and efficient. I hope to become a great leader through earning the respect of my teachers and staff. And I hope to create environments that nurture the time, ideas, and ways in which teachers learn to help each and every individual student.