GHD Essay Meredith Mitchell 2147202 expand my horizons as an educator. It was my hope that by working with different curriculum, on a different collaborative team, and with a different age group of students that I would open myself to the opportunity for growth. I welcome the challenges that this change entailed, as I derive great satisfaction from learning each day. “Strategic’ also characterizes me professionally as I have also been selected to take on multiple responsibilities within my school that require me to implement data driven decisions. lam the co-chair for the School Improvement Plan (SIP) because I have the desire and ability to research student data, communicate information with my colleagues, and make decisions to best improve my school's academic achievement. My co-chair and I meet frequently to provide tools, training and opportunities for the staff to ensure best collaborative practices are utilized within our professional learning community. Having served in this role this school year, along with my role as Math Lead Teacher, | have helped encourage great changes in my school's approach to mathematics planning, instruction, and assessment, Ihave known my whole life that teaching was my passion. It has come to me as a great surprise over the past few years to discover that it is also my passion to inspire, motivate and assist other teachers as a leader within my school. When serving as a mentor to a new teacher or running a professional development training for my colleagues, | am finding that I gain an even greater sense of accomplishment knowing I have helped another educator in some way. Teaching is a demanding profession and having leaders that inspire and motivate us, as we do for our own students, can make all the difference in a school's attitude and achievement. By participating in George Mason University’s graduate program, itis my hope that I can research and develop the knowledge and tools needed to be an effective leader in education. I hope to utilize these skills to provide instructional coaching for novice teachers and to continue to impact the instructional decisions made at the school level. I also aspire to lead educators in an administrative position at the school level and also to promote best leadership practices within the county. I have the motivation and drive to make a difference in my school and my community and look forward for the opportunity to even more greatly affect the lives of students through this program.