I’m heading off this weekend to go to the Washington State Arts Education Association’s state convention. I will be doing presentations on becoming a National Board Certified Teacher. “So, one of my teacher-friends asks, why are you going? And really- why are you presenting?” It didn’t take me any time at all to reply. “Because that’s how I get new information!”
When I go to conventions or spend time researching opportunities, I am just adding to my own knowledge base. Yes, I’m sharing information too- but then, I am gaining new information as well. I asked, “Don’t you go to your professional associations state convention?” She said, “No.” In fact, I found out, she doesn’t even belong to a professional association! That answer took me by surprise so I did a little research. . .
I discovered that less than a third of the teachers in my building actually belong to their disciplines professional associations. They are missing out on networking with like-minded individuals. They aren’t receiving the latest publications their association has access to and they aren’t benefiting from the shared knowledge of the national professional group in their field of expertise. What a wealth of information that is passing them by!
I believe that teachers have a responsibility to stay current and to stay curious. When the professional organization participates in developing new standards of practice the whole body of teachers involved with the process receives the updates and they have a chance to vet the new ideas before they become requirements for the students they teach.
When I was still a student our professors required us to join a professional association and that’s what got me actively involved in teaching reading across the content areas. Without my ties to the Washington Art Education Association I wouldn’t have had the information about national standards that I needed in order to pursue National Board Certification.
We can’t afford to sit around and moan about the changes in education that we don’t like. We must be a part of the ongoing process to grow, develop and change our own teaching to align with best practices in an ongoing evolution. One of the sites I visited recently was loaded with information on getting started in joining professional associations.
Join your own professional association and by stay involved in the wonderful jigsaw of professional growth! Go forth and research and then present- we will all profit from your effort!
Pamelia Valentine is a guest blogger and teacher in the Shelton School District.
Previous Blogs:
Building Relationships with Difficult Students
I WILL know what you did last summer
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