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One of the very first things that I reflected on before deciding that I was ready to make the critical
transition from teaching to administration was why I wanted to make that change. You see; I still love
my job. I love coming in to work to see all those faces light up when we embark on a new learning
adventure. I love coming up with new and creative ways to make sure that all the children are
engaged and invested in their learning. I love integrating multi-modal, brain-based learning strategies
and seeing everyone have a chance to showcase their skills and talents. I am and always will be a
teacher. In order to be a great teacher though, that means that first and foremost, I am a dedicated
learner. I am driven to keep learning, keep evolving, and grow beyond my current level of proficiency.
Thus, I am ready to take on a new challenge and evolve professionally from classroom teacher to
school administrator.

I became a teacher because I was inspired to create a better world from the ground up. Like John
Dewey, I see our schools as social institutions and what better way to effect positive social change
than in a school? It was and is my continuing mission to reach all the children entrusted to my care
and help them become better people. My goal was never to merely teach the curriculum. My goal
has always been to provide the children with strategies and tools that they can use to develop their
own pathways to success. To that end, I joined professional networks, signed up for specialized
training, attended and presented at professional conferences and invested in a lot of reading on the
newest research and methods for differentiation. I believe that I now have a wealth of knowledge and
experience that I am willing and able to share on a more global level than just my classroom. I am
excited to share my ideas and initiatives with the principal that I would be work with and, with their
consent and support, I would love to see how I can apply some of the amazing ideas I have learned
about on a school-wide level.

By far the most inspiring initiative that I have encountered, is the model of Professional Learning
Communities proposed by Richard and Rebecca DuFour. I was privileged enough to be asked by my
administrators to attend the two-day Learning Tree Solutions workshop here in Montral. It was an
energizing and eye-opening experience. Their model for running successful, team-based and
accountable schools encapsulated neatly the same desire that has been burning within me for some
time. Needless to say, that I am reading as much material as I can on the subject and have already
roughed out some ideas on how to incorporate it into our school culture. I hope to share this initiative
with my current administrators and see if we can apply it within our school right now. I also intend to
sit with them and brainstorm some ways that we can start changing our own school culture from
closed-door teaching to teams of collaborative professionals with commons learning and assessment
goals.

In short, I am ready for the move to administration because I feel the same enthusiasm to work within
an administrative framework today that I felt when I started teaching 14 years ago. I want to be a
position to do more that help the 50 students in my care right now. I want to be able to help and
support the staff members, student body and the parents as well. I want to be able to work
collaboratively and support the principal so as to create a school climate that is warm, welcoming,
supportive and professional.
MS Ready to Make the Leap to Administration.
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