The Case For Being An Active Professional
Last weekend I went to an all-day, Saturday conference for the advisers of the seven Career and Technical Student Organizations available in the state of Nevada. We were (partially) compensated for our time, and we had breakfast and lunch. Next Monday, we have a district-wide Staff Development Day at which the entire Business and Marketing division of our extremely large district (4th largest in the nation) will converge in one place for Staff Development. They happen to be converging on The Boardroom—my classroom—for the day. We will also have breakfast, snacks and lunch at this voluntary training. I am an active professional.
Would you attend either or both of these training days?
I’m serious. Answer the question. Would you?
The answer to that question speaks volumes about how you perceive your profession, and your professionalism, and needs to be evaluated. Not by me—you are a grown, educated adult—but by you.
I don’t attend everything, so I’m certainly not perfect and I won’t preach to you. There is a multi-day training in the northern part of my state that falls terribly in the middle of my summer, making it nearly impossible for me to attend based on my family schedule.
Personal Activities
Here’s the funny thing about me at this point in my career: I only work when I want off the clock.
That’s right—I’m not grading at night or writing a test this weekend. Not me. I guard my “Real Life” with resolve and passion, and only work when I decide I should. That’s not to say I NEVER do those things—I totally do—but only on my own terms. As you know, the day or two before grades are due everybody is working outside school time. But, as a general rule, my personal time is sacred.
I recommend the early career teachers adopt this philosophy as soon as you possibly can—you’ll be a lot happier and feel much more in control of your life.
And when you feel that positively…
…you won’t mind giving your personal time and energy on your own terms.
Which is why I enjoyed the CTSO conference, and look forward to Staff Development Monday.
Professional Activities Make An Active Professional
I am a career teacher, and I started teaching in 1987. I’m extremely proud of my body of work, and never aspired to be anything but an excellent example of a classroom teacher. Never wanted to evaluate other teachers or discipline students. No interest in working a central office job or even changing disciplines. I’m just the typing teacher.
It isn’t enough, however. We strong, competent, committed educators need to be active in our professional communities outside of our classroom and outside of our district for a number of reasons:
- Your voice matters. You are the expert in your field, and you owe it to your clientele—the students—to share that knowledge and benefit others with what you have learned.
- Forces are often against your students. They need you to advocate for them and your program with the school and district leadership. They won’t know the amazing things you are doing or the incredible workforce statistics you are producing if you don’t tell them. Loudly and often.
- Your expertise is needed by the next generation. Much of your knowledge came not from books, but from others in our profession. You, as an experienced and successful teacher, are now in the position to pass that knowledge down to the upcoming teachers.
What, specifically, can you do? I’m so glad you asked…
Marketing your program
You don’t need a marketing degree to know how to advertise your program and your classes. It is important that your classes have a position within the school community. My juniors, for example, work in the Student Store, which is managed by my seniors! These are positions of high honor in our school, and everyone knows that part of my junior curriculum includes working in the store. It’s something my kids look forward to.
Within your district
Do you inform your school and potentially district administrators when one of your students gets an “out of reach” job offer or a scholarship? You should! While these aren’t YOUR accolades, they are stemming from the confidence and important skills you are teaching in the classroom, and your administrators need to be reminded of that.
In your area of town
Your larger community would probably love to support your efforts—if only they knew what you were doing! We have students visit neighborhood businesses for a variety of things from requesting jobs, internships and sponsorship for a variety of events. You will find business owners among the alumni from our programs, and often anxious to “give back”.
Accepting Student Teachers
A great way to build community with the higher education institutions in your area is to agree to accept observation and student teachers. You never know when one of your own graduates might need you to make a phone call on their behalf, and that connection you’ve built may come in very handy.
Within CTSOs
How many other advisers do you know by name? While I know it takes an effort, I have been saved (literally!!!) by other advisers over the years simply because of our relationship. I have had advisers step in when a kid needed help, and contact me when students forgot things for competition. Once I had an adviser give my kid his tie so he wouldn’t get points off for dress code—just because I offered him a pen at a meeting the year before. Relationships matter when they matter.
Professional organizations
You’re a teacher, so I’m gonna go out on a limb and guess money is tight. Yeah…totally get it.
Now, join your professional organizations. This is a non-negotiable in my opinion, coming from a Union-heavy presence in New Jersey, and having needed the benefit of professional organizations in the past. Over the decades I have gotten tremendous material and information from in-person conferences, as well as reading professional journals and networking with other teachers from around the country. In the Business Education world, we have several amazing organizations that will reward your membership with a wide variety of services, not to mention the first-class opportunities to connect with like-minded educators.
NBCT
I’ve saved the granddaddy of all professional development for last on purpose. If you have made it this far, you are probably considering increasing your professional presence on the state or national stage. I present to you the National Board Certified Teacher program.
Universally accepted as the absolute best professional development available and imaginable, pursuing National Board certification is a potentially multi-year event that is absolutely worth your time. My regret is that I waited so long to do it—you can start it after your third year as an educator. Encompassing four components ($700 per component), successful completion results in you being certified for five years, which can carry an incredible pay increase in some states.
Even here in little Nevada, NBCT means a 5% raise every year, and is included in our retirement figures. A future blog will give specific details of the process for CTE in the future, but I wanted to put it on your radar. Getcha thinkin’…
YOU ARE A ROLE MODEL
Why is it so important for you to get involved outside of your classroom? Why do you need to be an active professional?
Someone is always watching.
You probably have no idea who it is, but someone is definitely watching you every day. With every assessment you give, every presentation you make and every greeting at the door, somebody is noticing you.
I will retire in under four years. Last year, while she was a senior, a student confided in me that she wants to be a business education teacher like me in the future. She is going to our local university, and will graduate exactly when I retire. We are hoping the stars will align so that she can replace me in 2026. She had this dream for all four years, but told me last spring. She was watching. Every day.
What you model is important, and students will take it with them into their futures. What do you want them to replicate? I’m sure you don’t want them to become cranky, disgruntled employees who lock their doors and only do the bare minimum to get by. Of course not! You want your students—and your children—to be the best version of yourself. That has to include building a professional network that you can participate in—and that can support you—throughout your career.
When Pop got cancer, I didn’t write a single lesson plan or grade a single paper. You know why, don’t you? My network of professional business educators stepped in and took care of my professional workload so I could attend to my personal responsibilities.
That is being a member of a community.
Don’t you want that for your kids?
THANK YOU FOR READING THIS FAR
Wow, thank you for reading about how to be an active professional!
Hey, since you’re here! You may as well check out the “wh-” questions I have for advisors, here, and learn how to celebrate with students, here! Check out our other topics here! Either way, I appreciate you!
Please leave a COMMENT about any tips you may have!! Or comment what your favorite lesson of mine was! How’s your student organization operating? What are your freshman orientation tips?
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