InTASC Standard #10, Leadership and Collaboration, outlines the importance of engaging with education as a community effort. A teacher is not an island, and he/she/they serve students best when he/she/they work together with other teachers, school staff, families, community members, and the learners themselves. As teachers collaborate with others to create valuable teaching tools and educational experiences, they become leaders in their learning communities and advance the teaching profession as a whole.
Communication with Parents
As a teacher, one of the most important groups I will work with is the parents and guardians of my students. In order to successfully collaborate with these parents to fully support student learning, I communicate with them clearly and frequently to keep them abreast of any changes or announcements regarding their child and my classroom. By doing this, I will help to create a community of learning that extends beyond the walls of the school and ensures that my students receive support from all of the adults in their lives. While student teaching, I opened communication with my students’ parents through my introductory letter home and request for photography permissions. I was not able to meet any of my students’ parents or guardians during student teaching, but I look forward to interacting with them in the future.
Professional Development
Throughout my education career, I’ve been eager to attend professional development classes and conferences to collaborate with other educators and to learn from others. In the past, I have been fortunate enough to attend professional development conferences such as the Virginia Association of Science Teachers professional development institute and during my student teaching I was able to participate in a professional development class regarding creating a positive learning environment at my placement school. In my future career I am excited to continue learning from and collaborating with other educators through professional development opportunities.
Faculty Meetings
During my time student teaching, I attended monthly faculty meetings where staff members were able to come together to discuss current school events and to work together on creating the best environment for their students. I was also able to attend meetings of the PBIS (Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports) team at Northside High School, where a mix of administrators, counselors, and teachers worked to create a welcoming and safe school climate for students and teachers alike. Teachers, administrators, and staff members collaborated to address issues such as school climate, remediation, testing preparation, mental health, and community building during these faculty meetings and focus groups.