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DESIGNER LEADER LEARNER MENTOR

Introduction


“A bridge enabling passage from one world to another.”
-Author, Richard Shiff

Purpose:

My professional portfolio is a final reflection of  my teaching and learning experiences from the ITS program. I have learned many "tricks" to put in my "designers toolkit" and I have started to put them to good use in the classroom. I know that I am not a full practitioner--I am just a novice and my journey as an educator and student is just beginning.

The professional portfolio is a tool to help reflect on my growth as an educator and learner over the past two years.  I stand at the end of this program with many different paths and opportunities at my feet.  I am a "real world" classroom teacher with a wealth of ideas to implement into my instruction to engage, motivate, challenge, and inspire the students I interact with in my class. 

I am a designer with principles and strategies to implement to enrich curriculum and help prepare students to learn what they live and live what they learn.  I am beginning to design opportunities to prepare students to be able to bridge over to the future digital  world  with the tools and skills they need to be successful.  I am a leader with innovative ideas for delivering instruction with the motivational constructs to inspire fellow educators, administrators and stakeholders to change their views, to change their practices and make them more reflective of the world wide communities in which we live.  I am a lifelong learner with a desire to know and apply more.  My path framework is set but the journey is just beginning. The details and knowledge will be ongoing for a lifetime.


Metaphor:

A bridge.  A simple combination of form, function and structure, or is it?   A bridge works and links our present to the future; the future to the past; the known with the unkown.  A bridge between people enables the passage of ideas, it connects people who are in different places, it enables help to be connected, it opens up the opportunity for people to be helped, it reduces isolation, it is a more efficient way of getting to another point, it increases the range of options available.  It is far more complex and powerful.  Yes, powerful.  

From my perspective, a bridge provides a rich, deep, meaningful and compelling metaphor for my teaching style.   ALL parts of a bridge are important to the structure. Without one component, the others would either collapse, cease to be functional, or be  weakened or even fail. The dictionary defines a bridge as be comprised of  many components.  Architecturally, there are three main parts: substructure, the deck and the superstructure.  Each provides a key to the structure as a whole.  Specifically:  

Substructure
: Everything below the superstructure.  This is the structure that props up a bridge, the piers, columns and supports.  It is the foundation.
The Deck
: The upper horizontal beam that carries the "roadway." 
Superstructure: The portion of a structure that is above the bridge bearing elevation and transfers the weight of that structure evenly to the supports/substructure.

It represents so much that is the "educational support pathway" and vision for my classroom.  I am a career switcher and have blended and bridged my business background into my curriculum.  I have used the various superstructures, substructures and deck "constructs," which parallels the supporting concepts from the ITS Program and integrated them into my teaching style, leadership plan and advocacy visions.

An "educated-educator" must create opportunities for students to bridge their classroom and real-world skills.  In this way, we will be ready to prepare today's "digital learners" to cross over to the 21st century and be productive in a global economy.

Professional Background:

Education:
Mr. Stephenson is a seventh year teacher at Farmwell Middle School. He is a graduate of Virginia Tech with a BS in Marketing Management and a minor in English, 1987. In May 2006, Mr. Stephenson completed his licensure course work at Old Dominion University.  He is currently getting his Masters in Integrating Technology in Schools at George Mason University.
 
Background: Over 16 years of experience selling large scale software systems to the commercial and federal market places. The last two years, he was VP of North American Sales for an international software company. He has a broad background in sales, PR, marketing, promotion, management and other major areas of business. He retired from software sales (click on the link to see a press release) in 2005 to pursue a career in teaching. Six years ago he started his own pet sitting business specializing in large birds/exotics. It is now the largest in the MD/VA/DC area. To see more, please visit his company's site.  Lastly, he is forming a new company that has received investor capital.  This will be launching in the Summer, 2013.
 
Goals: I have several goals for students. My primary goal is to teach students keyboarding skills using the QWERTY touch method. Secondly, I will use real world business projects and concepts to reinforce their keyboarding skills. These will include business cards, budgets, resumes, book reviews, and magazine advertisements, among others. Lastly, I plan to instill and introduce students to "real world" business concepts (i.e. basic ethics, failure, do your best, win-win, and other successful traits) AND convey how they are applicable to keyboarding and the student's future in terms of school, jobs, saving time, and communicating more effectively.
 
Facts: Keyboarding is more than typing--it is a foundation skill. According to a recent study, over 96% of jobs in the United States use computers and related keyboarding skills. Don't get left behind.

 
Message: "This is such a pivotal time in students' lives. It should be full of foundation building, promise and fun. I look forward to working with each of you to make this year a success. Communication is key, so 'lets get down to business!'"

Appreciation:

Many people have helped me out throughout this course of study.  I could not have done this with out my fellow ITS program cohorts. Wonderful group of people always will to help.  Also, I would not have been successful had it not been for the great course professors, Priscilla Norton and Dawn Hathaway.  Thanks for opening up my eyes and supporting me with so many amazing ideas.  The collaborative nature of this program was the best.  

Always remember:  "Keep it Real-World!"