A bit about me:
My name is Gretchen Giffin and I have had the privilege of being an elementary teacher for the past 26 years. During the span of two and a half decades of teaching, I have experienced multiple grade levels and worked with hundreds of students. Each year is a new and exciting journey, full of expectations and seemingly limitless opportunities.
I believe in starting fresh each year. I do not reuse lesson plans from one year to the next. One of my favorite things about being a teacher is getting to know my students, their individual personalities, strengths and weaknesses. As I learn these things, I can reach my students where they are, with tools that are best suited for those individuals.
I believe all students can learn. No matter what level a student is at academically, I take responsibility for reaching each one where they are. I find the best way to design effective instruction is to keep the learner in mind while consulting data every step of the way.
I believe I am a life long learner. In my career, I have learned from observing colleagues, attending professional conferences and participating in training sessions. Some of the most influential skills and knowledge I have gained include training on creating a blended learning environment, utilizing the explicit instruction model and implementing strategies I learned through LETRS training.
I have been teaching elementary school children for the past twenty-six years and have loved so many of my experiences thus far. Teaching is a rewarding profession, though sometimes it takes years to see the difference you made in a child's life.
Perhaps I will continue to teach children and learn and grow as an elementary school teacher. Perhaps my career will evolve into something slightly or completely different. I do not have my sights set on precise career goals. However, there are a few career paths I would pursue, if an opportunity were presented. These paths include the following:
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Director of Technology Integration-I enjoy teaching children but I also enjoy teaching colleagues. I am not afraid to learn new technologies and figure out meaningful ways to integrate them into classroom instruction. I also enjoy developing learning modules for adults. I would pursue a career in technology integration, especially within an elementary school setting.
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Instructional Coach- Most teachers have far more tasks than time to complete them. As an instructional coach, I could bridge that gap and assist teachers in learning new technologies, using data to inform instruction and developing just-in-time professional development.
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Assistant Teaching Professor- I have skills and experiences that I would love to share with young, energetic future teachers. Elementary education is an incredible field where we need ambitious, positive, hard working people. Sharing my experiences and teaching evidence-based methods would be a wonderful way to pivot my career.
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Instructional Designer-I love to problem solve. Being part of an instructional design team would be an exciting way for me to test my problem solving skills, while working to meet the design needs of clients. I would pursue an opportunity in instructional design, especially within a small business setting.