New Year's Goals, Not Resolutions

Every year millions of people establish New Year's resolutions and then often break them within the first month of the new year.  I, too, have made the dreaded resolutions and have fallen off the wagon.  That is why this year I am creating goals for myself instead of resolutions.  The change in vocabulary is important because with goals come results.  Goals are dreams that become reality.  Goals are something to be put in writing and reviewed occasionally to monitor for progress.  Goals can be short and long term; goals can be broken down into achievable steps.

Here are my professional short and long term goals, in no particular order.  They are being documented in my blog so I can hold myself accountable.  I may find myself adding to this list as the year progresses

• Finish reading Switch and find a way to direct the "Rider" of decision makers and get their "Elephant" emotionally invested in the need to establish regionalized or cluster programs for deaf and hard of hearing students in Kentucky

• Complete all necessary paperwork to get my Director of Special Education credentials.  My dream job is a hybrid role of part-time teacher and part-time Director of a regional program for the deaf and hard of hearing

• Develop a stronger Growth Mindset by finally reading all the books I purchased: Mindset, Drive, and Quiet

• Achieve my Professional Growth Plan regarding Transition by participating in webinars about transition and ILP, speaking to local experts, reading and more reading

• Work with Help Educate to Advance the Rights of the Deaf to establish regular ongoing #deafed Twitter chats.  One wasn't enough!

• Through collaboration with the DHH teacher work group, complete work on all documents that support the Teacher Professional Growth and Effectiveness System for teachers of the deaf and hard of hearing

• Share the incredible ongoing work of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation Teacher Advisory Council with my district and Professional Learning Network.  Not only should the work of TAC be shared, but so should the individual successes of each teacher in TAC.  We all have implemented successful programs or strategies that can benefit educators and students around the U.S.

• Blog more!  Even though not many read my blog, writing is a way to develop professionally and to process what I read and learn.  I plan to write more about effective DHH teaching strategies to help new and veteran teachers

• Co-blog with Deaf and hearing educators.  Collaborating with other experts establishes a stronger voice about key topics and teaching strategies

2014 has been an incredible year in education; so many advancements.  I have grown professionally more in 2014 than I have in the past 19 years of teaching.  I am excited to see what lays ahead of me in 2015!