Why is it Important to Continue Your Education as a Teacher?
Educators are constantly trying to improve their pedagogy through professional development opportunities, reading blogs about classroom strategies and new student-led activities online, and collaborating with peers when time permits. However, there comes a time when educators reach a mastery level where they must pursue formal education to continue their growth as an educator.
A master’s degree in education allows teachers to have the formal education that is beneficial to be a leader in their district. There are several options for a master’s degree, from Curriculum and Instruction to Educational Administration. One only needs to analyze their personal goals when deciding on which master’s program to select.
My drive to continue my education came from my second-year teaching science at a Title 1 school. My students were struggling, and my current teaching practices were not meeting the needs of the students in my room. At my previous school, where I taught for eight years, there was a lot of parental support, students were intrinsically driven to learn, they automatically respected adults, and I was able to completely focus on the curriculum at hand. I quickly realized that my style of teaching needed to be altered to meet the needs of the students in my room.
When collaborating with a colleague, I was told that I needed to lower my rigor for our students, which did not sit right with me. I knew the students in my room were no different than those I had at my previous school; I just needed to find ways to reach them. I read books and articles about connecting with students, how to encourage students to succeed, and was constantly reflecting and modifying my curriculum to ensure I was equitably addressing all the students in my room. Finally, I started to see improvements with student achievement, and my classroom management improved as well.
This experience pushed me to want to help other teachers struggling with students in their classroom. However, my influence over teachers within my school was minimal as I was new to the district. I decided to enroll in Concordia University Irvine’s M.A.Ed. Educational Administration to make a more significant impact on my school and within my district. It was not an easy decision as I knew it would be a lot of work outside of my school day and would add to my student loans.
However, the impact I was going to be able to make with this degree outweighed any doubts I had going in. Now that I have graduated, I was quickly hired as an assistant principal at a high school within my district. This opportunity has allowed me to work one-on-one with teachers to improve student outcomes and to build a school culture that promotes equitable high-quality education for all students.
Ways to Continue Your Education
There are several ways for teachers to further their education in addition to a master’s degree education through a university. Many districts offer professional development opportunities, which can look different depending on which district you are in. Some pay teachers for their time spent on professional development if it happens outside of the school days, whereas some districts have professional development days where teachers learn, and the students have a day off. These opportunities can be valuable if they are followed up with small group collaborative time for teachers to reflect on the newly acquired teaching strategies they are implementing in their classrooms.
Another way to continue education is through real-world experiences in the industry. For example, some programs hire teachers during the summer as a paid internship opportunity. These experiences allow teachers to gain firsthand knowledge of modern technology and workplace practices that they can then bring back to their classroom. It allows for innovative teaching practices and ensures the curriculum is up to date.
Lastly, teachers can continue education and move up on the pay scale by taking classes beyond their bachelor’s degree. Classes can be focused on education or can help a teacher gain depth of knowledge within their curriculum.
Additional Benefits of Continued Education for Teachers
“Developing as a Professional Educator” is a standard within the California Standards for the Teaching Profession for a specific reason: students benefit from a teacher’s continued education. Teachers must continue education to be ever-changing in their pedagogical skills and keep up with changing technology and workforce trends. Students benefit when teachers keep their curriculum up to date as it allows students to graduate college and career ready.
In addition, teachers benefit as they can use innovative strategies that encourage student-led learning, furthering student engagement and ownership of their education. Lastly, continuing education is a way to move on the pay scale. Credits that are earned beyond your bachelor’s degree allow you to move over on the pay scale. Many districts also award teachers with a master’s degree a nice stipend to add to their salary schedule. As an administrator, the cost of the degree was minimal compared to the jump in pay scale I experienced going from a teacher to an administrator. Not only can I make a difference at the district level, I am also able to pay back my student loans quickly.
Benefits of Receiving Continued Education at Concordia University Irvine
Concordia University Irvine has many opportunities to continue education as a teacher that can support any teacher in their professional goals. The courses are designed to build capacity within each student where the coursework is challenging but is immediately applicable to the classroom and your growth as an educator. The professors are always available to support you when needed, the university offers relevant professional development opportunities, and the coursework prepares you for the next step in your career. As a recent graduate, I am so happy that I chose Concordia University Irvine and would do it all over again in a heartbeat.