Professional Leadership.

Advocacy, and Professional development career plan

Monique Kartchner
Sonya Gaches TTE 403
Professional Leadership, advocacy, and professional development career plan
With the end of my university education in sight it is important to establish a professional
plan that will be rooted in the beliefs and principles that initially formed my philosophy as well
as the aspects that transformed my philosophy into what it is today. Four components that I feel
are essential to creating an achievable and inspiring plan are advocacy for children and families,
leadership in the profession and community, further professional development, and a plan, in
which the parts complement each another while being in line with my initial stated philosophy.
As I think about my professional plan and the different features involved, I see myself in an early
childhood setting with children who are excited to be there and learn surrounded by adults who
have their own philosophies and goals about working with children.
Advocacy for Children and Families
Looking into my own classroom and school I see that I will be an advocate for those
within my classroom, school, and in the greater community by being student centered,
representing the special needs of all students, and creating an environment where students funds
of knowledge are valued and incorporated into the curriculum even when faced with opposing
local or state statutes. I will center the curriculum, daily routine, and interactions on each of my
unique groups of students and parents in my school and classroom. In order to accomplish this I
will come to understand each of my students potential and will be committed to help them do
their best. While this sounds like an expansive idea I feel that I will be able to accomplish it
through finding ways to align my students funds of knowledge with the schools policies and

Professional Leadership. Advocacy, and Professional development career plan

curriculum. I will take the time to get to know each child and their family whether it is in the
classroom, through friendly phone calls home, or home visits.
I will be an advocate for children and families by representing the special needs of each
child and their family not only in academics but also socially and physically. I will start off the
year by getting to know each child academically through observation and interaction. As I get to
know what each child needs, I will be proactive in getting the help they need. I know that this
may not always be easy as I could be confronted with disapproval from others. However, I will
continue to understand that advocating for each of my childs and familys needs are my duty and
responsibility as an educator and professional. I will take the steps both locally and in my state to
advocate for my students and have their special needs met. I have had the opportunity to
advocate for a few of my students during my two years of teaching experience. Each of the cases
was unique and each child needed to be advocated in different ways both in the school and
through the greater community. I found myself needing to advocate for students and their
familial situation even when it seemed unsafe. I have advocated for a student going through a
traumatic experience that needed time and understanding adults to work with him and his
adverse behavior. At times when I have advocated for my students I have been faced with
barriers in my own school but have found ways to maneuver myself to put the child in the best
situation possible. I plan to continue to do the same within my own classroom and career and the
community in which I live.
I will advocate for my students through protecting their rights and interests and creating
an environment where each students fund of knowledge is valued and utilized to advance the
learning in the classroom. I will make my classroom environment inclusive by endeavoring to
work at a school where each childs individualism is respected and valued. I will work with

Professional Leadership. Advocacy, and Professional development career plan

children and families to understand the knowledge they bring to the school and use this
knowledge to influence how I present and meet the goals and objectives of the school, district, or
state. I will continue home visits as well as family story backpacks in my own classroom so that
students get to share with me and their peers the knowledge they already have and how it makes
each of them the unique and special student they are.
Leadership in the Profession and Community
I will be a facilitative leader by giving the resources to group members in order to act in
the best interest of those affected (Sullivan, 2010, pg. 15). I will focus on the strengths rather
than the weaknesses of each person and find ways for each individual to develop their own
leadership ability. Along with supporting the teachers and adults who interact with students in
my profession I will also focus on providing children with the resources and power to be learners
as well as teachers. As I see my students as both teachers and learners, I will be able to see
myself in the same light. I will never see myself as the sole leader but will share the authority
with my peers, students, and community members in order to increase and expand the leadership
to benefit all those in the school and community. I will always keep at the forefront, an
awareness of how others are affected by me and what I do in my profession and community. As I
endeavor to be a facilitative leader I feel that I will continue to grow as a leader and advocate for
those in my profession and community.
I will use my authority to emphasize the importance of family involvement and
curriculum quality. I will express to those in my profession and community the importance of
families being valued and brought into the classroom to share their knowledge and experiences. I
will personally do this by planning and carrying out family focused events where families are
invited into the classroom to be active participants in their childs education and learning. I will

Professional Leadership. Advocacy, and Professional development career plan

also work with those in my profession to develop opportunities for families to be involved in
school and individual students projects. I will be a facilitative leader in emphasizing and
encouraging curriculum quality by developing relationships with those in the community and
being willing to go to those at the state level to influence areas of the curriculum that are not
appropriate or child centered. This year I developed relationships with two of my students
parents who are on the school board. This has given me the opportunity to hear what is occurring
in our district from a direct source as well as state my opinion and work towards certain
curriculum and funding goals. I will continue to make these relationships in order to have an
influence on the curriculum that is being emphasized in my school and district and the effect that
it has on all those involved.
Further Professional Development
My professional goals includes being a teacher in an early childhood classroom,
primarily a preschool or kindergarten, for five to ten years and then using that experience to open
my own private preschool or kindergarten. I will find a district that will welcome me and provide
some of the professional development I need to become integrated into the school and district.
During these years I will research and attend other professional development opportunities to
continue to refine and develop new skills needed to improve my teaching and learning practices
as a teacher, leader, and advocate. During this time I will work to get my masters degree in early
childhood education or special education so that I can open a preschool where I can provide the
highest possible quality of early childhood education and/or accommodations and aids for
children with special needs. Along with getting a masters degree in either of these areas I will
take business courses and find a mentor that can teach me the skills and other areas needed to

Professional Leadership. Advocacy, and Professional development career plan

successfully run my own business. I hope to be able to take these business classes during my
time as a masters student.
To accomplish my goal of opening a private preschool or kindergarten I will become
extensively involved in the community in which my family is living. By developing relationships
with families and leaders in the community I will begin to understand the areas that need to be
emphasized in early childhood and apply the knowledge I have received through the CREATE
program at the University of Arizona. By getting to know my community and be influenced by
those around me I will begin to develop my own schools vision and foundation that will best
serve the community in which I am situated. I hope to have a home that I can use for my private
preschool. I hope to have a separate room and an appropriate outdoor area that will provide the
room and resources needed for my young students to develop cognitively, physically,
linguistically, emotionally, and socially. I will use the space in my home to provide the most
accommodating and child centered area where students can learn and grow and where I can
document this growth and the areas where they need to receive extra support. I hope to have
small enough classes that I can provide the help needed to each child while inviting parents to
come in to contribute and learn along with their child.
I have stated my professional plan explicitly and in great detail. However, I know that
there may be other areas which I need to address as they arise naturally during my years as a
teacher and learner. My professional and life goal is to develop relationships with those in my
profession and community and provide the foundational experiences that will help each child
grow and understand his/her potential. I will do this by providing a high quality education for
each child that comes my way. This goal is based upon my initial philosophy and has been
expanded to encompass areas that I had never considered at the beginning of my educational

Professional Leadership. Advocacy, and Professional development career plan

journey. I see myself as a lifelong learner, and as such, I see that my goals will be transformed by
the things I learn and experience.