As I am ending my master program, I am already thinking my next educational adventure! I always thought when I completed my masters, it would be enough. However, as I continue to grow as a person and as an educator, it is not enough! I enjoy learning, which is one reason I became a teacher. As a categorical classroom teacher, I have students on my caseload that have a variety of needs, no one student is the same. To be the best teacher that I can be for the students currently on my caseload and my future students, my next goal is to add two endorsements to my teaching certificate.

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      The first endorsement I want to add is an emotional impairment endorsement. When I was completing my undergrad, I was interested in both emotional and cognitive impairments but chose to complete only one endorsement at the time. I think that emotional impairments play a large role in my students, whether there are diagnosed with one or not. I believe that by obtaining this endorsement, I will better understand my students therefore be able to better support and educate them. Plus, I am interested in the area of emotional impairments, which should make learning all the more fun!

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      The first step to adding emotional impairment endorsement to my teaching certificate is finding the right program. I would need a program that would allow me to take only the courses needed for emotional impairment endorsement. Ideally this would be another online program. This would therefore let me continue to work while I went back to school. I would then also be able to use the knowledge right away in my classroom! After completing those courses, I would then take the Michigan Test of Teacher Certification for emotional impairments. I completed my Bachelor’s degree at Eastern Michigan University and as I was getting ready to graduate, the school was offering anyone who had a cognitive impairment endorsement or emotional impairment endorsement to complete courses for the endorsement they did not have. Unfortunately, the timing was not right for me to complete this offering. This, if it is still being offered, would be the perfect program!

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      The second endorsement that I want to add to my teaching certificate is autism spectrum disorders. This is another area that I am interested in as well. This is an area of interest that came after I started teaching. With autism being such a large umbrella of characteristics and so many students in general education and special education classes, I think it would be wonderful to have the knowledge to help support students and staff in my building. I am sure I could just research when needed, but I believe that the information is valuable and will be put to good use within my own classroom as well.

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      The steps for adding an autism spectrum disorder endorsement would be very similar to those of the emotional impairment endorsement. I would need the find the right program; again hopefully all online! With the little research that I have done, it looks like that the autism spectrum disorder endorsement could be another Master’s degree.

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       A third and more of a long term goal is an educational leadership certificate or degree. This is more of a two-step long term goal. The first part is becoming a principal. I think that I possess the qualities and leadership skills one needs to be a principal. However, I do know that there is always room to learn and improve. That is why I am interested in the Galileo program at Oakland University. I know that the district thinks very highly of this program and many of the principals in the district have gone through it.  The second part of this goal is to become director or assistant director of special education. Special education is my passion and therefore this would be the ultimate dream job one day. I say one day because I know that I am not ready yet to take on those responsibilities. I want to grow more as a teacher and really have a good set of roots down in the classroom before I think about moving out and up to administrator’s positions.

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       My time in the Master of Arts in Education (MAED) program at Michigan State University has showed me that my passion for learning and teaching is deep. And my need to learn continues to grow. I want to be the best teacher and one day administrator that I can be. By setting goals and pushing myself, there is nothing that I won’t be able to achieve.