One of the things that I find most motivational since beginning my teaching career is the ability to brainstorm and discuss ideas with other educators. Some people don't enjoy talking to others about issues in their classroom, but I really find the saying "it takes a village to raise a child" by heart, and therefore think it is important to bounce ideas off other people.
This week I had an interview for an Ed.D. program at Union University. While waiting for my interview to begin many of the other interviewees were complaining about how nervous they were. Maybe I was less nervous because I have interviewed SEVERAL times being that I have taught in four schools in seven years because my husband is in the military, or maybe it was because I find talking to other educators (no matter what level they teach) inspirational.
When my husband was reassigned to Ft. Benning, Georgia, I sent my application in to Muscogee County Schools, and even though they had a new school opening, they had no new positions in the county. How absurd I thought to myself. So during a visit over spring break, I set up a meeting with the only principal that would meet with me so that we could talk about educational issues facing the county. We talked for two hours. Dr. Shouppe was very upfront, honest, and conversational about issues that he saw in educating students in Columbus. Since that moment in 2007, Dr. Shouppe has been someone I have been able to call to discuss issues I see in my current place of employment or to even bounce off disertation ideas.
During my interview this week, I was reminded of how much I gain from speaking with and bouncing ideas off other educators. Hopefully in the near future I will find myself doing this even more.
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