Wendy Says

Last month, the emerging roll of a teacherpreneur was introduced in this blog. This growing trend has only been happening over the last few years, but it is already making a huge impact in places where administrators are accepting the reality that students need to be taught how to be innovative thinkers if they are going to be solving problems of things we don’t even know about yet. This is the time for the development of teacher-leaders, design-thinkers, and teacherpreneurs. Ariel Sacks, a member of the TeacherSolutions 2030 Team, has “predicted that the schools of 2030 will need growing numbers of teacherpreneurs, which she described as teacher leaders of proven accomplishment who have a deep knowledge of how to teach, a clear understanding of what strategies must be in play to make schools highly successful, and the skills and commitment to spread their expertise to others—all the while keeping at least one foot firmly in the classroom.” 

Educators love to use big words and lots of abstract concepts in writing, so I’ll simplify what I can. Comprehensive reading and writing skills will always be important, as that is the basis for how we share our ideas. What does change is how these skills are taught, and due to an increasingly electronic/digital environment, the tools are continually evolving. Those of you who are currently entering the educational field come from the first generation that has grown up with computer-based toys since birth, and it is easy for you to relate to a mobile device as an educational tool. You see its possibilities and potential, how it can help a student instantly reach outside the classroom walls.

All of us are familiar with the ubiquitous lesson plans that lay out in detail the curriculum for each school day. While this can be extremely helpful, it can be a ball and chain, or it can be a springboard for creative discussion. We are living in an era in which we don’t know what the questions are going to be in the next ten years, let alone what their solutions are; it’s important that we encourage our students to see possibilities.

The schools that will succeed in preparing future thinkers and innovators will be those that are open to using the talent that already exists on their own campuses—their teachers. Teacher leaders will be an important part of integrating the foundational skills with the need to think beyond what’s in front of them. We understand the need to have solid reading and writing skills, but it’s their future application that is changing. Forward-thinking administrators know that if they are going to keep highly motivated and creative teachers in the classroom, they need to give them a voice.

A lot of publicity has been given to the changing face of how some corporations are being run, particularly think-tanks such as Google, Microsoft, and Apple. The standard cubicle is not going to inspire the ideas for products that don’t yet exist, but will inevitably shape the future; eventually, we will see more of this approach in the classroom. 

This is an exciting time to be in education, and I, for one, look forward to the great things that will be happening. These changes are not about throwing away the past, but rather using the past as part of the future; a strong educational foundation will always be necessary. 

There are many highly innovative and creative after-school programs that are being offered, and the people who are running them are your future teacherpreneurs. Is your school adopting any of these teacher-leader concepts? If yes, be a part of it; if not, make it happen!

As a teacher, you are normally defined as someone who teaches in a classroom; some will move on to become administrators.The vast majority of teachers will always be in the classroom, but sadly, many leave, opting for professional jobs that will both pay more and offer greater benefit packages. Many gifted teachers are lost to education because of this, but what if there was a way that the love of teaching could be combined with something that offers a creative challenge as well as more pay? Meet the teacherpreneur!

The teacherpreneur merges the image of the innovative classroom teacher with the risk-taking and entrepreneurial leadership that we commonly associate with those who create their own place in the professional world. This is an exciting change in the educational world, as this allows those highly motivated and creative teachers an opportunity to help their schools perform better, while developing methods and approaches that help other teachers bring out the best in their students. 

School districts around the country are slowly realizing the potential there is in hiring or designating a teacher in this entrepreneurial role, and the benefits are proving to outweigh the cost. Federal grants are also making this unique roll possible, as teacherpreneurs are showing that they can make a difference in helping both students and teachers achieve higher goals. 

Part of what makes teacherpreneurs unique is that they are still in the classroom—they don’t just talk about theory, they are creating innovative methods that they can share with other teachers in the school/district after having tested them in their own classrooms. They may teach on a part-time basis, using the rest of the day to formalize their ideas into something that can be shared. 

Teacherpreneurs are, first and foremost, imaginative teachers. They have created a classroom culture of creativity and reflection. They think beyond the classroom in terms of how to make lessons meaningful, and in so doing, might see a need elsewhere in school that their innovation can address. I know that teachers of this caliber need to be creatively challenged and allowed to act on that creativity if they are going to be happy and remain in education. Forcing teachers to conform to a set standard can be stifling and even demoralizing. 

Much has been written about how different students are with regards to how they learn coupled with their wide range of capabilities, and yet, this understanding often doesn’t extend to the faculty. Teachers were once students themselves, and who better to understand those differences than they? By allowing an atmosphere in which teachers are allowed to expand and grow, magic can happen in the classroom. 

Teacherpreneurship is a topic I want to explore in the upcoming few months, as I consider it to be one of the most important and exciting changes to come into the educational world. This is a way to keep some great teachers in the system and allow their innovations and expertise to benefit students and faculty alike. Our rapidly changing society and technology demand new and fresh ways in teaching  the academic basics.

Stay tuned! 

This is the time of year when the buzz in the teacher’s lounge usually revolves around next year. Who’s coming back? Who’s not? If your district is like many this year, there are numerous teachers, counselors, and administrators in the “not” category, and not necessarily by choice. Lack of state funding has forced many districts to cut positions from the classroom all the way up to the district office.

So what can you do if you’re a “not”? After you give yourself a day or two to wallow, it’s time to take action! Start your job search early to get a leg up on others in the same boat.

The first thing you need to do is update that resume and secure some references. Most districts require letters of recommendation; some as many as three. Your current administrators will likely be inundated with requests, so ask early and don’t be afraid to remind her. And updating your resume is easy with tips from How to Write a Resume and other sites that offer tips on everything from your cover letter to a post-interview thank you note. Just do an online search about what you need.

There likely won’t be many jobs posted just yet, but a great place to start your search is Teacher Jobs, Teachers-Teachers.com, or a generic job search engine like CareerBuilder.com, Yahoo! Careers, or Monster.com.  Post your resume to as many sites as possible to get the most exposure, and visit the sites regularly to search available positions. Oftentimes positions won’t be posted until the end of the summer, but if you put yourself out there early, you might snag one of those positions.

If you’re lucky enough to score an interview, be sure to do your homework, dress professionally, and send a thank you note afterwards. The key is to set yourself apart from all those other teachers that were let go this year—stand out from the crowd.

Above all, keep your chin up. You may not find that perfect teaching job next school year. But if you’re looking to get your foot in the door with a new district next year, apply to substitute in the district and keep your fingers crossed. We’re all hoping the economy makes a turn for the better and those funding shortages turn into teacher shortages!

I’m interested in hearing about what’s going on around the country. What’s happened in your district? Paycuts? Positions lost? Large class sizes?