Here at Inspired Teacher, we are building a team of educators and writers who are committed to making the classroom a more positive place.
With that in mind, we are so excited to announce the newest member of our blogging team, Lisa Dabbs {from TeachingWithSoul.com}, a former elementary school teacher and principal from California. She is passionate about encouraging teachers, and she will be joining our writing team next month. Here are a few of Lisa’s answers to some questions I shot her way just recently . . . .
What is your educational background?
I started my career as a Teaching Assistant, teaching reading and dance in the Los Angeles Unified School District. When I earned my degree and teaching credential I was hired at a local urban district, in a high poverty area. I taught for 10 years in early primary grades in a large year round school and a smaller traditional school.
During that time, I was called to assist with a grant project to support the needs of students and parents in the area of literacy development. As a result of my work on the project, I was selected as the Federal Project Director of this Language and Literacy program.
Upon my completion of my administrative credential, I was called to serve as an elementary school principal, and did that for 14 years. It was challenging work, but was very rewarding!
Seeking professional growth, I left the principalship to join an Instructional Coaching Team and worked for Kaplan K-12 Educational Corporation as a Middle School Consultant & English Language Arts Coach in the Los Angeles Unified School District. Recently I have also worked as an Adjunct Professor teaching Graduate Level courses in School Administration.
I have a B. A. in Child Development ,a M. Ed. in Educational Administration and Life Teaching Credential. Currently I work as an independent Educational Coach and Consultant.
In my work as a Consultant I’m fortunate to currently be a part of the core blogging team at Edutopia.org, Curriculum Consultant for eduPad.com and to present webinars for educational organizations such as Simple K12 and ASCD.
What is one of your favorite things about teaching?
One of my favorite things about teaching is the children! But seriously…with the advent of free and accessible Web 2.0 tools that compel us to consistently seek to be 21st century educators, our profession is completely being transformed. The potential to be able to harness those tools to support instruction and re-invent the work that we do with students and parents is inspiring!
What books/resources have shaped you or would you recommend to other teachers?
I absolutely love books and reading! It’s been a true passion that I’ve had since I was a little girl. I’d have to say that 5 of the books that have truly made an impact on my work are Tribes by Seth Godin, Hesselbein on Leadership by Frances Hesselbein, Professional Communities at Work by Dufour and Eaker, Leading with Soul by Bolman and Deal and 10-10-10 By Suzy Welch. Each of these books although not necessarily educational in genre have amazing potential for our work as educators. They each have contributed in some way to how I’m currently seeking to frame my work and personal life. I highly recommend them.
Lastly, an on-line resource that I believe that is absolutely invaluable to educators is Edutopia.org. The tremendous work that goes into vetting, producing and recommending the tools that the Edutopia team makes available to all for free, is amazing. There are blogs, groups, videos and wikis that can be easily accessed by curriculum strand and grade level. Be sure that you take the time to visit Edutopia! You will truly be inspired.
What aspect of education are you most passionate about today?
I’m consistently driven to research the potential to support educational reform by supporting those who are new or new to the profession of education. Having said that, after many years for mentoring teachers at my school sites, I’m now doing it in my work as a Consultant. Both face-to-face and virtually.
My passion is to coach and mentor new teachers, and I’m excited to be supporting new teachers by facilitating the New Teacher Connections group on The George Lucas Educational Foundation Edutopia website. I’ve also created a group called The Teacher Mentoring Project at the Educators PLN. There I seek to provide the possibility for teachers that don’t have a mentor in their school building or are seeking one, to connect with one via the web. It’s a global group that I’m hoping to see grow in the next year. I’m also the founder of New Teacher Chat, a chat that is practitioner focused, which is targeted to the needs of new and pre-service teachers which occurs on Twitter every Wednesday at 5pm Pacific Time. Lastly I’m passionate about the ability for educators to drive their own professional development via free on-line webinars and edcamps. I hope to write more about these PD opportunities in the future.
What is a favorite inspirational quote that encourages you to teach with intention?
“The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.”~Eleanor Roosevelt
What advice would you give a younger teacher?
The most important work you can do in your life is to seek out your passion. If you are entering the teaching profession for any other reason… don’t. Unless you are completely committed to the craft and all that comes with it, you will not become a passionate educator. And passion is what will consistently drive you to be the best you can be for yourself and the students you will serve. The teaching profession is a service profession, make no mistake about it. It will stretch you in ways that no university can possibly prepare you for and at times, it may break you. But take heart, and remain true to your passion. You might fail from time to time, but you will never give up because you will always know that this is what you were born to do.
Stay the course, stay passionate, reach out for support and always seek to stay inspired!
- Lisa Dabbs, TeachingwithSoul.com
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Congratulations to Heather M. Franklin, our winner from last week’s giveaway for the teaching picture frame! Heather, email me your mailing address so we can get that in the mail to you soon. Thanks so much to the etsy shop AndVinylToo, who graciously donated our prize this month. {Wouldn’t these make fantastic gifts to your teaching friends? I promise the price tag will not instigate cardiac arrest, either. You can view this unique teacher appreciation gift here.}
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