I am currently a teacher at a high school here in Houston and have been accepted into the Vanguard Family. What is Vanguard you ask... Well, I asked the exact same question. In my interview I was asked a stream of questions about technology... And, as any good teacher would think to him/herself, "What!?!?! More technology." You see, the education world is being infiltrated with technology on every side. Phones appear in your classroom like cockroaches, administrations wants to know what you have posted, when you posted, how you posted, and you can be expected to learn a new software program, app, LMS, etc to use about every 6 months. Como crazy!!!
Needless to say, I was nervous. What had I signed up for?
Umm... something wonderful.
This group consists of teachers and administrators from all campuses with the sole purpose of making better teachers and therefore better classrooms.
I have changed the way I think about education, my classroom, and my instruction in a way I did not see possible. They started with having us created a design journey. We had to find a problem in our class or campus and create a way to solve the issue. I have never been so stressed, stretched, and scared. I had insecurities creeping out of every place possible. Yet, due to the loving and consistent push from our leaders, I completed my project. We turned my room from lime green walls with purple chairs (charming, I know), and less than 2 feet of space for walking between chairs into a spacious scientific learning center. I am so pleased with the changes. I am not finished by any means and have about 3 more tasks to complete, but I have had about 20 students from last year come and ask, "Why didn't you change the room for us? This is so much better!" Oh yeah, huge complement from a 17 year old; or at least that's how I chose to take it. Oh yeah, with all the added space, I have room for my amazingly stellar wheelchair bound kiddo! No more pushing, fussing, to get to a desk. Whoop whoop.
Here's to a great start! Hope you all complete your task, no matter how long, how frightening, or how daunting it may seem. Cheers!
Cockroaches! 😄 Thank you for sharing this honest description of your journey so far. We all have little leaks of insecurity that need to be plugged up, and Vanguard is the place to find caulk for sure, but you are full of amazingness all on your own!
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