SPD-501 Statement of Intent
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School
Grand Canyon University *
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Course
SPD 501
Subject
Arts Humanities
Date
Dec 6, 2023
Type
docx
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5
Uploaded by deweykatie123
Statement of Intent
Katie Dewey
Grand Canyon University
SPD 501: Graduate Studies in Special Education
Professor Kimber Underdown
January 25, 2022
Statement of Intent
Being an educator is nothing short of a miracle worker. Students are placed in our care at
minimum six hours a day, for five days a week and are expected to be taught the tools of life. As
an educator, there are certain responsibilities that we must accept to be the best versions of
ourselves. It takes strong dedication and determination to become a teacher, which you will read
in this essay. I will also talk about the aspect of professional development after getting licensed
and hired in a district.
Licensure and Certification Requirements
As said before, becoming an educator is a task not many would think of pursuing.
Looking at the Western Illinois University website, they have a great breakdown of what will be
asked of students in the Education Program. I decided to take on Elementary Education, which is
certified from grades one through sixth (WIU, n.d.). After completing the necessary classes and
keeping at least a 2.5 GPA, I had to sign up to take the four different content exams. In Illinois,
the four content exams areas are in Language Arts, Math and Science, Social Studies, and Health
and Arts. Following completion of those was turning in the EdTPA. This happens during student
teaching field experience when you are one hundred percent in charge of the classroom. I put
together a portfolio of my work that included lesson plans, student work, assessment
breakdowns, and graphs that proved my readiness to becoming an educator. Once the EdTPA,
content exams, and course work from WIU were completed, I just had to wait for my
certification to come in. During this time, I applied for different teaching jobs in the desired area
I wanted to work in.
Continued Professional Growth
A key part of being an educator is knowing that your job as a student is never over. The
best way to keep up on best practices is to join an Education Organization. Although I have
already joined the National Education Association, I have been keeping my eye on the Illinois
Reading Council. This organization sends out monthly newsletters and journals that give new
and relevant information about the literacy world of education (IRC, 2020). They also hold
webinars, conferences, and book clubs that will help me grow as an educator. I am also lucky as
this organization has a smaller group called Sauk Valley Council, which is where I am currently
employed. They meet in person once a month to review the materials and journals sent out to talk
about professional development. This would be an excellent way to keep up with my
professional development and share ideas with peers.
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Conclusion
Even though the road to being an educator was bumpy, I would do it again in a heartbeat.
Attending a university and going to classes was just one piece of the puzzle. I knew that I was
signing up for a life-long commitment and would do what it takes to succeed. Although I did
have some setbacks, I stayed determined and focused so I could be there for my future students.
The content exams and EdTPA allowed me to graduate with my degree, but continuing my
education with professional development will help me become the best educator I can be.
References
Welcome to the website of the Illinois Reading Council (IRC)!
Illinois Reading Council. (2020).
Retrieved January 25, 2023, from https://www.illinoisreadingcouncil.org/
WIU. (n.d.).
Elementary Education, option Bachelor of Science in Education in Elementary
Education (Grade 1 - 6)
. Elementary Education - Western Illinois University. Retrieved
January 25, 2023, from
http://www.wiu.edu/coehs/education/undergrad/elementary_education.php