The partnership component was key to the success of my fellowship. My mentors and I worked closely throughout the summer. Without the assistance of my mentors, I would have been unable to gain access to the agriculture industry. They opened many doors. My mentors were instrumental in the success of my fellowship.

The term “professional development” is heard throughout many school districts and in my district professional development days have been built in to our school calendars. Many of those days the staff would sit in a room, in what seemed like a staff meeting. The focus would be very general; the topics would vary…many of us (teachers) felt as though there were tons of things we could be doing in our classrooms to better prepare for our students.

Now having completed all three KFP Professional Development Institutes, I feel differently about professional development all together. These three institutes have allowed me to grow as an educator. Not once did I think about what other things I could be doing instead of participating in Kenan Fellow Professional Development. These three institutes had a true purpose and its purpose was to take good teachers and make them better. These institutes helped me better understand the purpose of my fellowship and the impact it will have on my students.