Personal Mission

Running head: Personal Mission Essay

Personal Mission Essay
Michelle Wise

SPE-529 Foundation and Framework

Personal Mission Essay When entering into a career choice we all have preconceived ideas and notions about what we expect. The laws, mandates, regulations, and changes in special education, which are continual and necessary for the betterment of our students. Quality education is not an option it is a responsibility of the educator and achievement is the goal for all students. However, meeting student’s needs is essential for successful outcomes. Furthermore, making a commitment and building our professional abilities, skills, and knowledge is critical for our growth and development. Over time changes in experiences, knowledge, and education will occur. These aforementioned changes will help educators become their best as professional so that we can continue to meet the growing demands for our students. In my lecture resource reading, Resource 2: Module 3 Resources shared very essential information regarding teaching standards. These standards are very vital to learning and practices in special education. There are professional standard boards and committees that establish standards and requirements for the teacher certification. This is mandated from the state in which you live in. There are different guidelines teachers must follow nationally and throughout the state. The state also requires the special educators to demonstrate the knowledge in subject areas and skills in teaching. The information in Resource 3 had not changed my understanding of the meaning of a “special educator”. It just showed me that with continued education and perseverance, I must continue to gain more professional growth and developmental experience. The knowledge and skills one must possess to be an effective special educator, must continue the professional development training provided by the school district, and attend workshops, conferences and hands on training in the classroom. Professional development is very essential to the special educator. Special Education is a career long development for teachers. Professional development consists of relevant content, strategies, organization support groups to ensure the quality of the student and teacher. There are also education issues, policies and concerns addressed in the professional development conferences. This is another way to communicate updated news for administrators and staff. In these professional workshops, you find out much information on licensing, certification and endorsement program opportunities. According to Bonnie Billingsley (2005), she states that No Child Left Behind (NCLB) recognizes the role that high quality professional development plays an increasing achievement in schools and outlines specific criteria for professional development. These NCLB criteria are consistent with much that has been written about effective professional development practices (Gudkey, 2003) National Staff Development Council, 2001) These criteria include advancing teacher’s understanding of significally based research, aligning professional development with content standards, and evaluating the impact of professional development or student achievement. Although a recent study suggests the special educator spend substantial time in professional development activities, these activities do not always reflect current knowledge about effective practices, such as engaging teachers in their own learning or allowing time support the development of new skills (A Highly Quality Teacher for every classroom 2002). There are two also supportive organizations, which have standards for all beginning special education teachers’ guidelines one must follow. This is necessary as well for effective special educators, The Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) which is the largest international professional organization dedicated to improving the educational success of individuals with disabilities and/or gifts and talents that advocates for appropriate governmental policies, sets professional standards, provides professional development, advocates for individuals with exceptionalities. The next one is the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) it is a Board composed primarily of educators which has developed a system of advanced standards and assessments organized around five core propositions to improve teaching and student learning. As a future special educator, it is my career goal and philosophy to produce students to strive towards their full potential and encouraging educational growth. I believe teachers must provide all students with access to learning. In order to accomplish this, teachers should utilize every tool within their grasp, from the internet to basic wooden blocks. Educators must transform learning environments from the standard seatwork at the desk, to chalk on the sidewalks. Teachers must be equipped to implement best practices and research based pedagogical concepts in their instruction, which will enhance the academic performance of their students. The knowledge and skills will definitely change over the next decade to come. There will be new laws and policies in special education, as long as we have students with special needs and disabilities. Special Education is an on-going field of study that will change from time to time, as society change within our community, teaching standards to educational policies in our government. In summary, having on-going professional development training, research and furthering your education increases your knowledge and skills in being an effective special educator. I have an understanding and appreciation for these standards because I can apply the knowledge and different learning strategies and in the classroom.
References

Billingsley, B. (2005). Cultivating and Keeping Committed Special Education Teachers: What Principals and District Leaders Can Do. Virginia: Corwin.

Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) 2010. Retrieved September 20, 2010 from http://www.cec.sped.org/Content/NavigationMenu/ProfessionalDevelopment/ProfessionalStandards/ The National Board for Professional Teaching Standards(NBPTS) 2010. Retrieved September 20, 2010 from http://www.nbpts.org/the_standards

References: Billingsley, B. (2005). Cultivating and Keeping Committed Special Education Teachers: What Principals and District Leaders Can Do. Virginia: Corwin. Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) 2010. Retrieved September 20, 2010 from http://www.cec.sped.org/Content/NavigationMenu/ProfessionalDevelopment/ProfessionalStandards/ The National Board for Professional Teaching Standards(NBPTS) 2010. Retrieved September 20, 2010 from http://www.nbpts.org/the_standards