The Next 5 Years

Part 1: A Personal Reflection

My major goals focused on trying to broaden the view of STEM education within my
school and increasing the inclusion of my schools educational setting. I developed these goals
in much the same way I hope to continue to anticipate change: through my students and peers.
Leadership often is based on the view of hierarchies where a myth begins with the
person on the top has more authority, more power, more knowledge and/ or more skill. Yet, in
the education system the students are the ones who bring in the waves of change and hint at
the changes that are about to come. They are also (wrongly) labeled as the bottom of the
hierarchy. Our co-workers and peers are the ones who have been around the field long enough
or have a fresh take on the situation to develop a reactive (or better yet a proactive approach to
addressing these changes our students need to thrive. Looking to the students and peers gives
a broad range of diversity in work/ life experience, age, personal identity/ background, beliefs
and other non-measurable differences.
In order to get tapped into this huge resource, my job is to continue to share myself, my
story, my beliefs and my failures. I need to be personal and open about my confusion,
weakness, and strengths. This opens a safe space for others to jump in and share their stories.
It also develops a support system for the leaps and jumps that will end in bruises and course
corrections during the pursuit of these goals.
While technology will play a role in this Personal Learning Network and I will continue to
stay active on Twitter and other sites, I still believe human connections in a city of such diverse
students and teachers, in a building of such diverse students and teachers is the best starting
point. It has been through my work with the drama department that I have questioned and
answered the most about my teaching pedagogy and understood the actions I have taken. In
short, my goal is to reach out to my already existing school community in a way that brings us
together cohesively focusing on our own PLNs along with the students.

Part 2: Curating Your Resources

https://www.tes.com/lessons/fSOPZs7ccWT7Cg/

5 Static Resources - (1) quote: Dont let perfect be the enemy of good. (2) book:
Beyond Consequences, Logic and Control, (3) book: The Dreamkeepers, (4) book: Circle
Forward, (5) blog: my.pltw.org overtime blog/ course

5 Human Resources - (1) co-workers through Twitter, (2) MSU Urban STEM cohort, (3)
Von Steuben teachers/ students, (4) Maggie - Yin yang photo, (5) Goodman Theater

5 Funding Resources - (1) CPS, (2) Opt4STEM, (3) Donorschoose, (4) CMS -
externship, (5) fundraising - muffins