Power of Collaboration

I have worked as a teacher for over 20 years. In that time, I have taught students in elementary, special education, high school completion, GED prep, and college. I tutored individually and in groups, as well as teaching community college.  I love working with learners, and found myself drawn again and again to teaching adults. In the last several years, I worked with colleagues, other teachers, and professional development coordinators in Maine, Vermont, and various locations across the country. I believe my experiences have prepared me for the shift from educator to manager. 

The skills I have learned by being a teacher translate well into the management field. Without collaboration, empathy, and honest communication, there would be little "team." 

Professional development is crucial to being the best educator I can be. Seeking out training, conferences, and other professional development opportunities are all ways I find vital to being skillful and capable in both teaching and managing. A strong, competent leader depends on the team that support and move the work forward together. 

I looked up the definitions of "manage" and then of "teach": (www.google.com, "define," 09/08/2020)

Lead                                    Coach

Oversee                              Train

Organize                            Instruct

Guide                                 Facilitate

I think to be an effective leader, you must have qualities from both categories. Without the ability to facilitate or train, overseeing or guiding anyone in the workplace becomes far more challenging. I am a successful, passionate, and strong teacher, and I know I will make an equally successful manager.

While looking for synonyms for "strong personality," I found this picture at Status Mind. I chose to include it because it implies that you are never quite complete; you are always sculpting yourself to be better than what you were yesterday. 

After all, when we collaborate, we all achieve greater.