The institute that I found most valuable during my Kenan Fellow professional development were the session held in Cullowhee, NC. This professional development was most valuable because I was provided with specific skills, strategies and tools that I could implement in my classroom. Also, the opportunity to learn away from home and build relationships with my cohort was an amazing experience.
The last two professional development sessions were just as enlightening but require much more effort on the part of teachers and the community as a whole. Their are fundamental issues with the funding, zoning and testing of public schools in North Carolina. The last two professional development gave me the tools to really make change in the educational system, which I think is just as important. As a people, we have to think about the well-being of the entire community versus what directly effects our household. It is everyone’s responsibility to ensure that all children receive a free and appropriate education.
These sessions were similar to my other professional development experiences because I received a plethora of tools that I could use in my classroom. This professional development was different because it provided with ways to impact the state of education outside my classroom. We need great teachers to not only care about the education happening in their classroom but also be prepared to influence policies as they relate to the education of our youth.
‘Teacher training has become harder and harder these days!’