Beyond a Teacher

 

A teacher is one who traditionally imparts students with knowledge, and nothing more. Although this is good, it is not enough, because the school system has gone beyond that threshold, and demands for more.

 The extra attention that the educational system craves for can only be  given through effective school leadership. This is why every teacher should not just see themselves as teachers, but as school leaders. A school leader, is one who  motivates students, other teachers and parents, to achieve a common educational goal. They strive to encourage a team work in raising 21^st century students.  

Aside being a school leader, a teacher is also a learning facilitator, who helps students to be a part of their own learning experience, and to use the knowledge they have acquired, to deal with real life issues.

A teacher as an agent of change, is  also expected to be a curriculum developer. A curriculum developer is able to identify the educational needs of students, and develop a teaching plan on how to meet   those educational needs, and school standards. This is beyond being knowledgeable in various areas, it is about proffering relevant solutions to educational problems. This leads to the next Skill a teacher should have.

Any product that doesn’t solve any problem, will not sell. This is because problems naturally gravitate towards their solutions. Every teacher is a product, that should solve a problem. To attain this height in the teaching career, a lot of other factors must come into play. Some of these factors are soft skills, such as decision making, negotiation, creativity, team building, communication, and many more.

Being labeled “More than a teacher” entails that a teacher exhibits more than the traditional qualities of a teacher, and emerges as a 21^st century teacher; one who is equipped with different relevant skills, for their teaching journey.  A skillful teacher will always be sort for, because there is always a problem to solve in the educational system. The call is to skill up, and move one more mile.

Finally, teachers are models, who must mentor their students, and other teachers. What best way is there to do it, than being a mirror that reflects agents of change . The key is keep up with continuous professional development, diligence, and consistency.