Introduction Con’t

degree in education that I obtained from Relay College of Education in 2021.  My teaching philosophy has evolved over time, and I stay reflective to continue to grow as a leader. 

In the past I viewed feedback as punitive but now I understand feedback is critical to my success as a leader by identifying my areas of strength and my areas of improvement.  I am a lifelong learner which is why I am currently pursuing my doctorate in curriculum and instruction.  Some of my personal strengths that will empower me throughout my matriculation are having strong writing skills, effective time management, and self-motivation.  Effective communication, collaboration skills and resilience are critical to being successful in the program.    I can support the program by leading discussion boards and guiding open-ended questions to summarize key ideas from other colleagues.  I can ensure all voices are heard and encourage student engagement.

I was formerly introduced to various online learning platforms during Covid 19 in 2020.  It was critical to make learning fun and engaging which would encourage students to attend school regularly online.  I utilized applications like Zoom, Kahoot, and Seesaw that allowed students to collaborate and it was user-friendly.  I had never worked with online platforms to educate students so initially it was very intimidating to use the platforms.  I wanted to ensure I was delivering the same quality instruction as I did when we were in-person.  Conducting small groups and one-on-ones with students in breakout room was often a challenge because you wanted to keep all students engaged.  There was no manual or training, and I found myself googling a lot of “how-to’s” during online learning.  Some of the challenges of using the online platforms for instruction were technical issues in different parts of the city, low student engagement, and multiple distractions.  Once I got the handle of utilizing the online learning platforms, I enjoyed using them and continue to use utilize them today.  Online learning allows you flexibility and convenience that learning can happen anywhere.  Technology allows you to work at your own pace and are provided immediate feedback.  I love the ability to collaborate with various educators and share best instructional practices that will support student outcomes.  Online platforms are also a great mode of communication to support parents and other caregivers when they cannot be present physically.