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Why I embarked on the Chartered Teacher route
The personal journey of one teacher gives a unique perspective on development.
Life is full of choices. Some more constructively planned than others. Many years before McCrone, I made a conscious decision to move from a highly paid position in business to fulfil my personal dream to become a teacher. However, having achieved this ambition, I very quickly realised one serious failing within the teaching profession was the lack of constructive professional development which had been actively encouraged, if not required within industry. Developing this further I realised that there was also no opportunity in the teaching profession to reward dedicated professionals who wished to remain classroom teachers.
For my own personal professional progression therefore, I made the choice, after many years as a secondary teacher, to undertake a second professional qualification - that of the post graduate diploma in Primary education. This gave me more flexibility to work between the Secondary and Primary sectors. I believed that it was essential to keep learning and developing as a teacher.
I was more than delighted, therefore, when McCrone agreed with my belief. He and his team saw a perceived benefit of rewarding dedicated professional teachers who chose to remain as teaching specialists, and further help their professional development in a structured way. For me this was the perfect path of progression which had been sadly missing in an honourable profession.
It was with alacrity I jumped at the earliest opportunity to undertake the first steps towards Chartered Teacher via the Modular Route. The goal for me was the opportunity to attain a Masters in Education, whilst remaining a teacher, with the professional accolade of Chartered Teacher.
Of particular value was the core requirement to read current theory and the enhancement of my teaching practice.
When I started this undertaking it was the ideal innovation allowing me to progress without moving into management. Having previously worked at a high level in administration in industry I was all too well aware that many of my teaching peers progressed to management without any formal basic training. The transition was often undertaken with no proven managerial skills or expertise. With my own professional qualification and personal business experience, management would have been the obvious move for me, but not my personal choice. One of the very positive results of McCrone therefore was the inception of Chartered Teacher, allowing teachers to be promoted within the classroom instead of having to look to managerial positions in order to gain advancement.
The Chartered Teacher route gives emphasis to the individual teacher and not on subjective views or external forces. For the first time within the teaching profession, as I see it, I became responsible for my own development and subsequent rewards, personal, professional and financial.
My Chartered Teacher journey therefore started with an enthusiasm and commitment. With twists and turns, ups and downs lay ahead and like many journeys the process and achievement of where I am today is a source of personal pride and satisfaction. One I would recommend to any dedicated professional teacher.