My Journey
From designer to highly qualified teacher in 8 years.
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I earned a Bachelor of Science in Design in 1998.
I loved working as a designer, but everything I created was eventually used up and thrown away.
I wanted to make a difference.
So I decided to become a teacher.
◄2001 to 2006 education and practice ►
1) In California, all teacher candidates must show they've taken enough courses to qualify as a teacher. They must also pass the CBEST. I had 4 hours to finish the 3-part exam. I passed on my first attempt in 2001 and began my journey as a teaching professional.
2) Passing the CBEST qualified me for the Pre-Intern Certificate. I had one year to complete the requirements for the next level. I began working full-time as a teacher at Valley Oaks Charter School. I also kept working hard to reach the next level of teaching certification.
3) The next big step is passing the Praxis MSAT exam. This 4-hour test is taken after certain university courses are complete. It shows competency in reading, writing, and math. I passed on my first attempt! Here are my results from 2002.
4) Passing the MSAT in 2002 qualified me for a Long Term Emergency Credential. This one also expired in one year, so I continued working full-time as a teacher while completing university courses to reach the next level.
5) All teacher candidates in California must take two special university courses in reading and pass the RICA. The exam was 4 hours long. I was tested on the five domains of reading instruction. There are 70 multiple choice questions, 4 short essays, and a case study. I passed on my first attempt. Here are my results from 2003.
6) In order to earn the Clear Credential with TESOL, I had to pass the MSAT and RICA. I also had to complete 15 university courses. I achieved this credential in 2004. It's renewable every five years.
7) At this point, I had proven I have the knowledge to be a teacher. Now I needed to prove I had the skills by completing the Beginning Teacher Support and Assessment induction program.
I really enjoyed the two-year BTSA program. I needed to show that I was competent in all 6 of the California Standards for the Teaching Profession. There was a lot to do, and I enjoyed reflecting and fine tuning my skills. I worked closely with a highly qualified and enthusiastic mentor teacher. She watched me teach and helped me improve my skills. I completed this in 2006. If you open the picture you can see all the standards.
◄2006 to 2009 more education and more practice ►
8) My master's degree means a lot to me. I worked during the day as a teacher, prepared lessons in the afternoon, and took courses at night and during summer break. I'm dyslexic so reading and writing are harder for me. It took more time to read through the materials and extra effort to make my writing strong. I set a goal and it took from 2001 to 2009 to complete it.
Here you see my certificates and diplomas. During these years between 2001 and 2009, I was teaching students and going places too. Just like the students I teach, I'm more than a paper with signatures on it. We all are. It's nice to have them to see our goals completed. 🏆
Redwood Elementary School
American International School, West
International School of Egypt
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