Reflect

Overarching Competency #1: Communication
Starting Level: Developing
Current Level: Performing

When I started this journey, I thought of communication as sharing information clearly and consistently. Over the past year, I’ve come to understand that it is so much more than that. Communication is about connection, trust, and creating a sense of belonging. Working on the Capstone Project showed me how much our union’s strength depends on keeping members informed and engaged. Sending out surveys, meeting with leadership, and helping create social media posts taught me how even small communication efforts can make people feel included and valued.

Overarching Competency #2: Interpersonal Effectiveness
Starting Level: Emerging
Current Level: Performing

At the beginning of TLI, I didn’t fully realize how much leadership relies on relationships. This year taught me that building trust is intentional and takes time, patience, and a lot of listening. Serving on the negotiations team required me to hear different perspectives, even when they conflicted with my own, and to work toward solutions that felt fair for everyone. In my Capstone work, I engaged members in conversations, gathered feedback, and encouraged people to see themselves as part of something bigger. These interactions reminded me how much people want to feel seen and heard, and shaped my understanding of what it means to lead with empathy.

Foundational Competency: Diversity, Equity, and Cultural Competence – Explore and Challenge Inequity
Starting Level: Emerging
Current Level: Developing to Performing

This competency challenged me to reflect on my own experiences, privilege, and biases. The implicit bias exercises in Module 1 were uncomfortable at times, but helped me see where I needed to grow. In my union work, I started noticing whose voices were missing during important conversations, especially elementary teachers and newer staff. That awareness influenced my Capstone, where I worked to make communication more inclusive and accessible for all members. I feel proud of the progress I’ve made in amplifying voices that might have been overlooked, and I know this work will continue beyond TLI.

Leadership Pathway Competency: Association Leadership – Organizing and Advocacy
Starting Level: Developing
Current Level: Performing

This year pushed me to step outside my comfort zone and step into leadership more fully. At first, I wasn’t sure I had enough experience to take on a project like this. Helping lay the foundation for a Communications Committee and contributing to advocacy efforts like the “Save Our Students” rally showed me how powerful collective action can be and how much of an impact I can make by helping organize it. These experiences gave me the confidence to use my voice to support others and create systems that will outlast my time in this role.

TLI Impact and Next Steps

Looking back, I can see how much I have grown through TLI. It didn’t just give me tools for leadership; it helped me discover the kind of leader I want to be. I want to listen first, bring people together, and create spaces where everyone feels valued. The Capstone reminded me that small steps, like an intentional email or a meaningful conversation, can begin to shift culture and build momentum. The most valuable part of TLI for me was learning that leadership isn’t about having all the answers; it is about creating opportunities for shared success and trusting others to rise to the occasion. Moving forward, I will continue developing the KEA Communications Committee into a sustainable structure that keeps members informed and engaged. I also plan to run for union secretary in Spring 2025, where I hope to continue advocating for fair pay and better working conditions. Beyond the union, I will bring this mindset into my teaching, helping students recognize their own power in building communities that are inclusive, equitable, and strong.