As I set to embark on this Kenan Fellowship journey, I have experienced a multitude of emotions: happiness, anxiousness, unworthiness, giddiness, among MANY other things. Since early April (that seems so long ago now, no wonder I have experienced so many emotions!), when I found out I had been selected as a Kenan Fellow, I have had a strong desire to learn more and more about my specific Students Discover externship and have been dying to meet and get to know the other 41 educators in my cohort!
I have always heard such great things about the Kenan experience and felt that it would do nothing but help mold me into the best educator I could possibly be, a process I know will never be complete as our students and the field of education in general continue to evolve. When I told my closest colleagues at Ligon that I had completed the fellowship application back in December, they typically became wide-eyed, which was accompanied by a “WOW!” or “OH MY GOSH!” and high remarks about what they knew about the process, either personally or from other educators. Knowing the reputation that this program has throughout the state (and beyond) I am sincerely honored and blessed to be presented with the opportunity to participate this year.
I see this experience opening my eyes to varied styles of teaching and teacher-leading, ultimately broadening and enhancing the classroom experience for my students (which is ALWAYS the goal in what I do). I look to use this year-long fellowship to learn effective ways to be even more of a leader within my school by utilizing the knowledge gained through the externship process and professional development opportunities and sharing them with my department and other staff within my building. I also look forward to the chance to share my experiences with those outside of my school setting as I expand my teacher-leadership capacity.
I’m sure this journey will have it’s ups and downs but I am going into it with the expectation that I will come out on the other side a better educator and leader within my school and community.
Taylar, I enjoyed reading your overflow of reaction to being accepted as a Kenan Fellow. As director of the KFP, it is rewarding to hear your excitement and to know that we have an opportunity to help you achieve the hopes/dreams/goals you have set for yourself.