What is my "Why?"

One of the questions that gets tossed around quite often these days is "What is your why?" To explain a bit more, I feel this question should be broken down into two chunks. "What is the purpose you have for what you are doing in given circumstances?" The second part of this question is "why do you wish to accomplish this?" As the new year begins, it has led me to do some personal reflecting and I have realized my "Why" has has been compartmentalized into sub categories but the non negotiable has not changed over the years. I have truly wished to help people out. This is and has been my bottom line.

When I first got into this business of Special Education, my "Why" was to get a job. After all, I had put forth a lot of effort in college and I truly wanted to work in this field. When I got in, it felt like an honor to work with students with disabilities. I have given my timeline in other blogs but will refresh for those new to Navigating Solutions.

My first school contract was in 1989. This was after about a year and a half of subbing, which was amazing experience. That would be a good blog topic for down the road. (Please don't let me forget that). Yet I digress. My first contract was working in a life skills classroom at the high school level. I loved going to work everyday and connecting with the students. In reality, they were teaching me as much or more than I was teaching them. After a year in this setting, I was voluntarily transferred into my first solo teaching gig. I was starting up an inclusionary special education program at the middle school level. My "Why" shifted a bit at this point and headed more towards how to make inclusion work for my students with disabilities. I wanted to make sure they were included to the best of my abilities. The bottom line however did not change. I wanted to help students to be included. Over the years, the program shifted to a more traditional model while we still looked at each student individually in order to place them appropriately so my "Why"evolved again into really dissecting the abilities of each student for an informed placement. I hope you can see that the core value of helping people hadn't changed.

After twelve years of middle school, a Developmental Preschool classroom opened up and I was able to transfer into this new setting. I was hoping to help teach 3-4 year olds and wanted to make sure people knew that I wanted to contribute in teaching primary students. My new "Why" was to connect with the littles and make sure they had a good connection with a positive male role model. I was also interested in making sure parents who were new to special education had someone who could encourage them and show them that their children were growing in their skills. Helping students and educating parents was my mainstay during these years. Ah, preschool was a good time but I began to get a bit restless after around six years and felt it was time to move on.

I went back to middle school to a program that had six teachers within the time I was gone from the same school. I moved back into my old program and was met with a pretty big mess. The program was in disarray and needed someone to stabilize it. I give you my new "Why." I wanted to make sure to build this program up again and get my students ready for high school. It was an arduous task that took a few years to get back on track. Hard work and perseverance did pay off. Within this amount of time, I wanted to make a difference at a higher level and administration seemed to be the next phase where I could help. I would be able to use my administrative position to create and help change systems. You see, I had a healthy frustration with the system and wanted to try and make changes at that next level.

Enter where I am at currently for the next chapter of this story. I have been in administration for going on seven years now. We have pushed hard in my department to make necessary changes in systems and how we operate. There is so much to do and take care of. A few years ago, I noticed my "Why" was getting a bit smothered. I wanted to make these systematic changes, one at a time but it has quite honestly been overwhelming with the day in a day out work that we have to do and it has made me tired.

As I stated above, I have been doing a lot of reflecting over the past year or so and have broken down my "Why" into one simple component. What have I wanted to and what do I truly want to accomplish within the world of education? The word "Help" always comes back to mind. I have wanted to help. I want to continue to help people within systems get better. I want to help young teachers feel they can become competent in this field. I want to help students feel they have purpose and can grow. I want to help parents feel that it is all going to be ok for their children. Don't get me wrong, there is a lot of work to do within these lofty goals but helping is truly what I wish to accomplish.

As I begin my transition once again, I hope that helping people through Navigating Solutions will continue to be my mainstay. I want this simple, yet powerful word be the core of who I still am. I have gas left in my tank but am ready to take on new challenges. I wish to help teams as well as individuals who are working through the educational maze create pathways that will work for them and students. I am truly excited for this opportunity and hope I get to meet many people and touch lives in positive ways. Jamie and I are here for you and getting ready to launch Navigating Solutions. We may not have all of the answers but... we are here to help.

I hope you find your "Why" soon. Please consider what it will be. Together, we can make it work out. The world of education is more complicated now than ever and we need mentors who can help with guidance. Jamie and I hope to be two of those people in your world.

Until next time, this is Jon from Navigating Solutions hoping to find ways to help you.