"The most important thing in communication is to hear what isn't being said" -- Peter Drucker Background When I was asked to step into the department chair role, my first thought wasn’t excitement, it was, “Am I even qualified for this?” . I wasn’t the loudest voice in the room or the most seasoned teacher on the team. But what I did have was the ability to listen, to connect with people, and to navigate tough conversations with empathy. That skill set became my anchor. It’s what helped me support two international teachers adjusting to a new educational system, mediate disagreements between colleagues, and advocate for resources our science department desperately needed. Whether I was sitting in on a lesson to offer constructive feedback or rewriting a poorly designed curriculum guide, communication, especially listening with empathy, kept me moving forward. In this post, I'll share my communication strengths, confess my growth areas, outline my action plan, and exp...
From science teacher to instructional coach - designing learning that sticks!