Leaving TE

At the end of Induction today, I leave the Teaching Excellence (TE) Team to start a new role at YES (more on that later).

I started my teacher training at TE Induction in 2016. At the end of the year I wanted to work at TE, and spent two years helping with Induction and striving for a full-time role. That Summer I looked around the room, saw amazing Instructional Coaches and leaders. I wondered if I would ever deserve to be in the room. I remember reading the e-mail telling me I wasn’t selected after interviewing for the Instructional Coach role, and the excitement when I was able to finally join the TEam full time.

I helped hundreds of teachers through the transformative experience that is first year teaching. I did great work with fantastic people. I struggled. I learned. I felt invigorated in the morning, and fulfilled at the end of the day. It was everything a job should be.

This school year I was promoted into a new role at TE, experienced several transitions, and that role no longer exists. It was a challenging year. I grew a lot and was able to better experience and process my emotions in a productive way, then focus on the work of improving outcomes.

Today is the end of my 8th and final TE Induction. I’ve learned with incredible teachers, TEam members and school leaders. I’ve seen teachers struggle through Induction and go on to become campus leaders. I’ve grown into a confident, assertive leader (who still learns from my own mistakes). Yesterday in my last TEam meeting I looked around the room and saw amazing Instructional Coaches and leaders. The Team has and will continue to evolve. The Team will continue to provide great coaching and development to new teachers.  I won’t be there anymore, but I hope that I’ve left the people I’ve worked with in a better place.