The Corporate Odyssey:
A Journey of Challenges and Recognition
My life’s odyssey has been shaped by a commitment to empowering exceptional students and a pursuit of excellence. It all began with a brilliant mind and an engaging attitude, leading to a successful ‘corporate’ career as a production control coordinator for an aerospace company. Managing a significant commercial spares desk and overseeing millions in monthly deliverables, I excelled and gained recognition. However, my suggestion to introduce interpersonal skills classes was met with resistance, leading to my eventual outcast from the corporate circle.
Undeterred, I persisted in advocating for the importance of interpersonal skills training. After two years, I garnered attention and was asked to find a consultant, eventually meeting with the General Supervisor. However, I was then reassigned to a challenging desk and subsequently demoted, signaling that it was time for me to leave the company.
Despite this setback, I remained true to my servant leadership style and decided to pursue a career in education. Along this journey, I encountered diverse challenges and triumphs while teaching exceptional students, empowering them to reach their full potential. My commitment to fostering an environment of compassion, respect, and empowerment remains steadfast as I continue to nurture exceptional minds.
Fostering Growth:
Empowering Exceptional Students in a Tough School
Taking on senior and sophomore English classes, which also included overseeing the school newspaper and journalism classes, I was excited to make a positive impact on these young minds. The challenge was real, but I was up for it. We produced one of the best editions of the newspaper in years, according to the printer, and that made me proud of the accomplishment the students made with my help.
In my teaching role, I faced a steep learning curve and encountered a diverse range of attitudes and intelligence levels among my students. Despite doubts from the department head, I persevered in my goal to teach freshman English and Life Skills, utilizing the new computer lab to teach research paper writing.
One student, initially lacking confidence and support from classmates, cried out of self-doubt. However, I paired tech-savvy students with those less familiar with technology, yielding exceptional results. By the end of the semester, the once hesitant student cried again, this time tears of pride as he held his finished project. The entire class completed their tasks, defying expectations and proving that with encouragement and support, students can surpass their own beliefs about their capabilities.
Unleashing Potential:
Defying Expectations in the Face of Doubt
Following my assistant principal to a new school, I took on the role of co-teaching a ‘self-contained classroom’ with another teacher, handling English and Math. Our modular unit on the outskirts of campus was once a day-care center, now divided into two classrooms with a mini-kitchen and toddler toilets, a stark reminder of the challenging realities my students faced outside of school.
A fortuitous discovery of Mac II se computers, replaced for the Art department, ignited a vision to create a network for both classrooms. Although I had no experience with networking, I was determined to make it happen. Collaborating with tech-savvy students, we cannibalized the computers for extra RAM, fostering teamwork and problem-solving skills. Within a week, we had a fully operational network, sparking enthusiasm among even the most disengaged students.
The installation of educational games and Apple Works revolutionized the classroom, fueling the students’ passion for learning and self-assessment. Their initial listless attitudes gave way to dedication, spurred on by the allure of computer-based learning. Using Bloom’s taxonomy, they evaluated their work daily, fostering self-reflection and growth beyond academic achievements.
The transformation extended beyond the classroom, as my students experienced personal growth and enhanced self-efficacy. My aim was to create a nurturing environment where students could thrive and be treated as individuals, not defined by their disabilities. I remained committed to proving that growth and achievement were possible at any level, given the right opportunities and support.
Navigating Challenges in Education:
Unleashing Potential and Overcoming Setbacks
After my two-year emergency certification expired, I landed a lead teacher position at a charter school, where I unexpectedly became the sole educator for about 20 high school students, spanning from freshman to senior. Though daunting, I embraced the challenge and innovated to meet their diverse needs beyond the standard curriculum. Drawing inspiration from Howard Gardner’s work on multiple intelligences, I created learning centers in the classroom, equipped with computers and materials to support different learning styles, earning praise from the President of the Arizona Charter School Association.
Despite successfully coordinating college-prep courses, campus visits, and curriculum delivery, I faced a new challenge with a disruptive student who refused to adhere to classroom decorum, constantly interrupting and making off-topic comments. After trying various approaches, including sending her to the office for reflection, I decided to reach out to her parents. The conversation, however, did not go as planned. Instead of understanding, I received angry responses, with the parents feeling criticized in their parenting.
Unfortunately, the situation escalated, and the parents threatened to withdraw their daughter from the school. As a result, I was unexpectedly fired, leaving me baffled and questioning the justification behind the decision. I realized that charter schools relied heavily on student enrollment numbers for funding, adding to the complexity of my dismissal. Nevertheless, this setback presented me with an opportunity to assist a friend in managing a project in LA, marking a new chapter in my journey.
Towards Holistic Education:
A Journey of Transformation and Innovation
After a year, I returned to the teaching profession, this time at a different charter school. Collaborating with a partner, we sought to explore our teaching dynamic while jointly managing the high school curriculum within a single classroom. However, as time went on, I realized that the administration’s approach of coddling students did not align with my vision for fostering growth and empowerment. This realization led me to make a bold decision—to join a residential treatment center and teach Math and Science at their charter school.
Driven by my passion for learning and personal development, I pursued a Master of Arts in Organizational Development at the University of Phoenix. For my final project, I poured my heart into crafting a business plan for a groundbreaking school/village concept centered around holistic education, embracing the interconnectedness of body, mind, spirit, and the planet. This endeavor emerged from my experiences across various educational settings, including charter schools, district schools, and treatment centers, where I recognized the immense potential for transformative learning environments.
Eager to share my innovative approach with those who needed it most, I presented my visionary plan to the Director of Education for Arizona Child Protective Services. Designed to benefit at-risk youth, the project aimed to create an at-hope environment that would lead the way for Arizona’s educational landscape. The Director was impressed by the forward-thinking nature of the proposal, acknowledging that it far surpassed existing models. However, despite the enthusiasm, the path to realizing this holistic vision remained uncertain. As I reflect on this significant moment in 2003, I wonder—have we reached the destination of holistic education, or are we still on the journey towards its realization?
Fostering Growth:
Empowering Exceptional Students
Throughout my experiences as a teacher, one resounding truth emerged: a teacher’s impact extends far beyond the classroom walls. Our attitudes and beliefs shape the future of our students, impacting not just their academic success but also their overall development as individuals. I am reminded of the power we hold as educators to instill hope, ignite passion, and nurture growth in the hearts and minds of our students.
As I look back on my journey, I take pride in the moments when I witnessed my students flourish, overcoming their doubts and limitations to achieve greatness. Each triumph reaffirms my belief in the immense potential of every individual, regardless of their challenges or circumstances.
Despite the occasional setbacks and challenges, my commitment to teaching exceptional students, inclusive across the range of diversity, remains unshaken. The path ahead is filled with uncertainties, but my determination to foster an environment of compassion, respect, and empowerment in the classroom and in life remains unwavering. To co-create harmony among people and planet, we must sense our way through a system designed to achieve it.
And so, I continue on my journey, driven by a passion for education, a love for all students (me included) across generations, and a hope that, one day, we will embrace a truly transformative approach to education that celebrates the diversity and potential of every exceptional student, and we are all exceptional students.
