Each day is a new opportunity to make a difference, and sadly, many people go through life without much thought; it’s easy to be tossed around by the urgencies of the day. The true professional finds value in being intentional with time and with forging positive relationships.
For example, part of the joy of teaching is being a conduit to helping families thrive. Being actively involved with our families means that we are meeting face to face regularly, empowering families with materials for home help and intervening if we see potential learning challenges. The U.S. Department of Education report showed that at 71 high-poverty schools where teachers were active in outreach to families, the students’ reading and math scores improved at a 50% faster rate in reading and a 40% faster rate for math.1
These relationships we form help gain the trust of parents, students, staff and colleagues which are fundamental to being a professional. The result of these trusting relationships show that the professional is deeply concerned with the school community, thus creating an environment that maximizes learning and bolsters achievement.
Another way to be a professional in education through participation is to value and seek collaboration and professional development. Again, professionals value their time and are intentional on being open to ideas and obtaining feedback from other educators — this will only strengthen and grow one’s commitment to learning. Although school administration may provide professional development, one must continue to be a student of learning and growing through not only content knowledge but also personal growth. This means utilizing resources such as:
- Books
- Podcasts
- Blogs
- Professional associations
- Online or in-person classes