My Professional Growth Plan
My name is Kennisha Deshields, and I have been a teacher who loves what I do with passion to teach young learners to realize their potential. My kind of educational journey can be traced back to when I was volunteering in a community center in my local area, and I would read with students in local primary schools as well as do math problems with them. I saw how their confidence and academics transformed, and this sparked the urge to dedicate myself to P-12 teaching and learning. Throughout my years of teaching, I have worked with a variety of different classrooms, each having its own problems/issues, yet my philosophy, which has not wavered, is that any child can achieve success given the appropriate support, encouragement, and resources.
When I found my place in the Master of Science in Education (MSED) program, I wanted to have a more thorough understanding of pedagogy, leadership, and curriculum innovation. It was a former coach/mentor, Ms. Clara Jones, who dedicated much of her life to inclusive education and enriched thousands of students with her commitment to her work. She proposed further education that I should consider to help me not only to improve my teaching approach but also to work to bring change to the system in terms of fostering equity in education. The MSED program will provide me with the tools that will enable me to serve as a better educator as well as a change agent.