The Art of Setting Goals and Self Reflection

Dear Reader

 Happy New Year! I realize this post is a month overdue.  I'm delighted to report that 2024 has provided a wealth of fresh concepts, information, and opportunities to explore opportunities to seek out new ventures to support the passionate work we do as educators to share this importance of education in the U.S. and abroad. As I consider my journey over the past 18 years, I must admit that it has made me wiser. The experiences and people I have encountered along the way have also helped me to remember that no one is too powerful to take away the enthusiasm and drive an individual must engage in the work that continues to be done to improve access to and equity in education.

 This journey began eighteen years ago, and it continues today, if not more so, because of all the good and bad experiences I have had along the way. I did not lose my hope, passion and humbleness for those who I have been meant to inspire and provide purpose of what that learner is capable of becoming, learning and accomplishing in a world where kind, and passionate people are those who can make a difference.

Professional Development and Time to Re-assess Goals:

Professional development in the 2024 classrooms should look like educators coming back refreshed and renewed in spirit and mind.  As a winter assessment on students will give us direction and provide data to drive instruction, so should our own personal career goals.  As many of you who have followed me over the years know, I create a vision board every year, and this year is no expectation.  I have done one thing different this year prior to creating a new vision board for myself. I have spent more time than I have in the past reflecting on what I was able to accomplish from those goals set a year ago.  I think what makes this year different is the completion of my doctorate work and the passion I found for collecting data and providing in-depth analysis on educational topics of interest.  I believe as I sped this year writing conference proposals, I will also add new sections to this website about topics I care about and seek out other professionals and researchers to contribute to this site and

monthly blog.  Therefore, I leave you with spending time each day prior to the start of your day to spend 10 to 15 minutes to journal all the “ah-ha moments” you experience and the “I want to try that next time” moments because it will instill a thoughtful and developing practitioner in all of us. Reflection and spending time being in thought and developing my practice through writing and journaling was the best career advice I ever received from two professors early on in my doctorate journey, and I still feel that it made the researcher and practitioner I am today because I spent time thinking about the 5 W’s(Who, What, Where, Why and When) that go into our work as educators.

Support and Self Initiating a Vision for 2024

 As the year 2023 ended and new ideas for what my work would entail beyond the classroom and computer, I reflected on an amazing year of working with students, families, and the educational community as a whole.  The journey of sharing the importance of supporting reading instruction for secondary level teachers and continuing the discussion on English Speakers of Other Languages continues to be the primary focus of the work produced, researched, and shared on this site.  A dedicated team and I will provide valuable, easily accessible and linked resources for your use in the classroom.  We are dedicated, to ensuring that resources educators need continue to be at no monetary cost, because the work we do today for children is important and should not be limited by barriers of financial access. 

Your Friendly Blogger,

Principal V

Image Credit: Unknown, found on Facebook