Eight . And okay . So , hello , everyone and welcome back to another podcast . I’m your host Greg Theory . And we’re with Loomis Learning and we have another treat for you all . Today , we have a returning guest , Bradford . He was in one of our earlier podcasts and he’s a good friend of mine . So Bradford , thank you for coming here . No problem . And today everyone we’re gonna talk about , we talk a lot about education , but we never really focus on what it’s like to become a teacher . And what are the steps that you need to do ? I mean , you get out of college and all of a sudden , you know , you’re like , I need a job , I need to , you know , I spent all this money in this degree . I gotta pay for it and I need to look at something and me and Bradford have a lot of experience and we don’t , we share that with you today for our podcast . So Bradford , my first question to you is this the same thing happened to you ? And I know you deal with it , you just get out of college . What should you put in like your teaching ? You know , resume if you have limited experience , that is a very good question . And I know for me , everybody’s trajectory of going into the education system is different . Mine was , I took the alternative certification route and uh and of course I was a parent But I think what you need to look at is if you’re going into this , um , I think people want to see like , what is your experience with kids ? What , how have you worked with them no matter if it’s kindergarten or seniors in high school . Do you have that experience working with Children ? Because once you enter this space , you are going to be working with multiple personalities and not just 20 kids in one day , you may be dealing with uh 120 kids , not all at one time , but you’re dealing with different personalities all day long . And so people are gonna want to know what is , what is your communication style or how , how often have you been working with kids outside of education and even beyond just , well , I babysat kids . Um they wanna know what else have you done as far as working with kids ? Because if you think about it , Greg , a parent is giving you their child and they don’t know you for eight hours a day , nine months out of the year . So you’ve got to be able to navigate that space . Yeah . And you know , it’s interesting you say that because you know , me being a clinical supervisor and dealing with a lot of people and you working in the district , I always used to tell people who are going into education , make sure you work as a camp counselor or something , you know , outside , you know , tutor , do something like that because we both know you only get one year student teaching and , you know , these are undergrads and graduates and they never been in the classroom before and they’re going right in or their career changers or whatever , they only get one year of student teaching . That’s not enough . So a principle does want to look at , you know , different things that are out there and you do want to put those different kinds of things , you know , of working with kids tutoring . You mentioned the camp because , you know , you’re right . We , we are the front line were with us , you know , kids for eight hours were with them more with their own parents , right . You know , they want to , we want to have that experience otherwise it’s gonna be horrible , you know , being that first year and you know what Greg , you know , I think student teaching is great and I mean , uh when you’re going into it , I think that’s phenomenal . But let’s just be honest with that and I can only speak from Bradford’s perspective . Nothing wrong with that perspective or your perspective . But when you’re in that space , the , the school or the company that’s putting you in that space is gonna give you the teacher with the best management , the best kids , nothing wrong with that . But that’s what you see . That is what you’re going to be working with . So for a month , for a semester , a month to a year , that’s what your vision is . And if that’s all you have to work with your sometimes in for a rude awakening when you’re okay . Guess what , Mr Gregor , you’re gonna go to this class and you haven’t seen these type of kids . Now , I’m not saying that that they’re above average or below average , but you’ve just never seen a different side of kids versus when you were working with the group that you student taught with . So you’ve got to be able to um what my thought was when I , when I was asked this question , when I was looking at your questions was uh when somebody asked me this , they said Bradford , no , I’m talking about going to the teacher . What should I do ? I said , you know , one of the things I recommend that you do if , if you’re , if it’s even entering your head is registered to be a substitute teacher and just to see , you know what this is like . Um and not just in one district register for as many as you can . Now , I can only base this off of my experience from what I know . But , you know , sometimes , you know , you’ll get that phone call six o’clock in the morning . Hey , can you come teach ? Yes , I can come teach and then you go teach a class and you get , you get to see that mindset of what that classroom is like . Of course , you know , the typical stereotypical classroom . Oh , no , the teacher’s not here . Let’s get crazy or whatever . But that’s not always the case . But you get to experience for that full eight hours a day what it’s like in that space , you can ask kids question , you can ask teachers , other teachers questions . So um you have an opportunity to go to fluent districts or schools or districts , student needs some help . So you can dip your toe in the water with everything and yet still do your student teaching , but get that experience all the way around . So you can , so you can really make it your mind . Is this what I want to do entering this space ? Because once you’re in this space , you’re in it for the long haul or at least a good year depending on your contract . But I suggest I’m doing that . Yeah . And you know , it’s funny because you did work at the district , you worked with a lot of principles besides , you know , teaching , which is very important . You know , this is what , you know , principals want to see that experience . Like what are some other things you , you know , you’re dealing with principles , you and you’ve been told , what do they look for in a , in a students and the teachers resume like , what are some other things that you noticed ? Um I think what they also are looking for is what leadership skills do you have ? And what organization skills do you have ? Those , They’re gonna ask you those questions ? Yes , they’ll ask the educational type questions . But I think they want to hear how can you , how can you manage ? That doesn’t necessarily mean that I was a manager at Starbucks or anything like that . But are you , are you a good leader in the space that you are currently in ? Can you manage things in the , in the spaces that you are already in ? Are you able , especially in 2023 ? Are you able to pivot as quickly as you possibly can ? Because here’s something that I wish somebody had told me when I entered this space , um , that one year , one semester you could be teaching English but the next year or the next semester or the next week , guess what ? You’re a math teacher . And so you may have gone into teaching thinking I am an excellent L A teacher which is fine . That’s not a problem . But things happen , especially with teacher shortages where you know what I need you to be a math teacher this year and you probably hate math with a passion but you like a roof over your head . And so those are things that I think principles wanna see , not again , I’m not in the principal’s head right now , so principal probably . Oh , no , that’s not what I’m looking for . But I think in my mind I’m thinking , can you do those things ? Are you able to pivot very quickly ? Are you able to be a good leader ? Are you able to organize ? Because I think those are things that they are also looking for in a teacher . Yeah . And that’s actually really interesting because , you know , we worked together for a while and we know , you know , principles and stuff . But it’s funny we were talking about this in the past but other , our colleagues that you get these students , they come out of college and they only learn what they learned in college . They have no extra skills , you know . Do you , and we talked about this , do you with all the companies we’ve talked to and , you know , dealing with this company , Loomis and other ones , you think it’s important that teachers get , or first year teachers or people who are getting out of college and education ? Do you think it’s important that they learn these extra programs and skills to get those certifications to make them more marketable ? You know what Greg ? It’s amazing . You know , I’ve been teaching for , I’ve been in education for 14 years . So I’m not gonna say I , I learned one way because technically I didn’t , um I just knew different aspects of what I wanted to do within the teaching space . But , and I had this conversation uh with my supervisor today . Um my two kids and myself transition at the same time , they graduated and I left the district teaching profession at the same time . So I , we all entered what we call quote the real world and what I saw for the first time , you know , as educators , we always say , you know , in the real world , this is going to happen or this is gonna happen . And when you see , when you see things through their eyes , you go wow , this is what’s really happy happening right now . This is what’s going on in a industry right now . And so now I thought what I thought when my kids were little , I could really utilize them as like my little student guinea pigs for the classroom . But now I’m looking at them as this is what it’s like going into the working world and what skills do they need to have ? What skills do I need ? Because for 14 years , I’ve had these type of skills , but now I need to work on growing these other skills , not because I’m in a new industry , but it’s because I need to develop other skills that are , that are growing . So yes , you can come in and be the math expert all you want to and I think that’s great and wonderful . But you also need to look into okay . What does this mean ? If , how can I also , you know , add reading into this or add science into this . Maybe not 100% . I’m not asking anybody to be like , okay , now I got to be an expert in every single thing . But remember what I said to be able to be ready to pivot whenever possible . That’s where we’re at right now . So yes , if you’re going in because you love math and 100% keep doing that , but also be prepared to look at okay . What , how , how do I get my kids through ? Because even okay , let’s bring up testing . For example , we we’ve been talking in , in our , in our jobs , we were talking to different companies where they’re realizing that okay state testing is changing , they gotta put more reading into this , you gotta put more math into this . So that means the class structure is changing . That means content may have to change a little bit . So teachers mindset has to change a little bit . So your skill set is gonna be a little bit different . So um I say all that to say is have some other things uh tools in your , in your tool belt . Um You don’t have to focus on them very hard but um be ready . Um and always stay abreast of what’s going on in industries . Um I think that’s good for teachers . Um Yes , as teachers , we always seek out , you know , um let’s talk to Mr Mr Mr Gregory from you know , Best Buy and , and he’ll bring in his two cents about what it means to be here . And kids get an insight . That’s , that’s great . We can still do that . But as teachers , we also need to learn what is also going out there in these different worlds . Not just to go out and run and get a job . We’re not trying to do that . Maybe some are , but always , I’m a person that is always an Abbot learner and always wants to and always wants to bring a new skill into my classroom . So if I can’t get Mr Gregory from Best Buy to come into my classroom , what if I learn maybe a tiny bit of a skill that’s to show students , hey , this is what they do out here . Here’s how it can . Next to math , here is how it connects to L A . Here is why you have to learn this because now that I see my kids going out into the world , there’s their understanding the why the kids always ask the why in school . But for some , they don’t see it until they cross over . I didn’t see it until I crossed over Greg . I didn’t see it until I crossed over with my kids that oh I need some other skills too . So I say all that to say Greg that I think it’s important to hone in on some other skills just to get your brain going and , and like here’s the other question though . We get the skills we , you know , we grab the degree . How do you network to get a teaching position ? You know , I know teachers are in short supply right now , which is good , but it’s not gonna be like forever . How would you recommend someone to network um , to get a position in a place that they want to work in ? So , that’s a very good question . So old school method , let’s let’s go old school um start , look , look on , look on the websites . Um This just where this website to see who’s hiring first off . That’s like the old school method . See if they got um uh career fairs going on . Some have even virtual affairs that are happening . So you don’t even have to even get in your car and go anywhere . Um Some literally are hiring on the spot . Um That’s something to think about . Um Because maybe you’re not ready to get hired on the spot , but that’s just to kind of get your chops up to kind of see . Okay . Is this something that I want to do ? Um Again , like I said , there’s career fairs . Um Google literally Google Education conferences . Now , that’s a little different . Some cost money , some are free . Um If you have money to go to these things , I would recommend going to going to these conferences , especially if you are a college student who is getting an education degree , you’re probably your teachers are probably gonna talk to you about going to these conferences to start getting connected . But if you’re not a college student , you’re looking to transition and you have , you know , a couple of $100 because yes , non educators , these conferences do cost a couple of $100 and you’re gonna have to pay for those conferences yourself , not your corporate people because you’re transitioning , you’re gonna want to go to those conferences just to kind of see what it’s all about . Connect with teachers . Yes , there are virtual ones if you don’t feel like you need to be in a face to face place um that are a little bit cheaper and some that are free . So I would suggest doing that . Um If you have teacher friends , a lot of us have teacher friends um see what um see what they , what conferences they attend to or ask them questions . Volunteer , volunteer . We are all connected to a school in some way shape before no matter if you live in an apartment or a house where or condo wherever you live at , you are near a school . So it doesn’t hurt to get in your car and say I’m interested in volunteering for your school . Um Yes , you’re gonna have to fill out some paperwork . Yes , you’re gonna have to get a background check , but that’s a start to getting connected to what school is going to be like . There will be happy to have you if your background check comes through and it’s clear , but that’s another way to get connected . So you can start asking questions to teachers about how to get into this . And then again , um some schools uh like I mentioned student teaching , um some of them you can sign up to be a student . I mean , that’s a substitute teacher . Um Some of them have that pipeline where if you become a substitute teacher , you , we can help you transition to become a teacher within like , what , what is it , Greg , like , two or three years or something like that ? Some schools have those kind of plans . Yeah . Right . And so they’ll walk you through those . So look into all of those things if you’re interested in becoming , um , a teacher and just putting it out there were in this room , we’re in this remote space now . So if being in the traditional space is not , it’s not what you’re looking at , but you like teaching from home , the remote teaching is still popular if you go on linkedin , indeed a glass door , things like that . If that’s something that you’re interested in , uh , look into that and see what they have to offer as far as what it means to be a remote . Now , that’s a , that could be a , that’s a totally different topic that we , we could probably talk about later . But those are still , uh , those are still opportunities in that space as well . Yeah . And the last thing I mentioned also again , as you said , go to your college professors because some of them have been principal superintendents for years or they knew something they do really well in the class they might say , oh , you know what I know someone or , you know , it is , you know , it is knowing someone that might get you into a position . I’ll be honest with you . Um , I knew someone that knew someone that got me into the school that I worked at for years . So it’s all these . But now let’s talk about the one and the most important thing I think in this podcast is you’ve been asked to come for an interview , you have to do a demo lesson . Alright . If you had to give some tips to a student on how to do an effective demo lesson because every school asked them to come in and eat in front of those students that one lesson to make sure that they’re going to be successful . What are some tips you would give to that person coming in for that one demo lesson ? Oh , wow . I’m trying to channel back back when I did my demo lesson . Um Wow , that’s a very good question , you know , um run it by a veteran teacher . So you’ve been in you , this is the real Bradford talking . I sound like one of the veteran teachers . But um you’ve done everything by the book for years . If you’re , if you , this is if you’re a new teacher , correct , Greg , if you’re brand spanking new . Okay . So you’ve done it , you’ve done everybody and everything by the book for years . So your lesson is probably gonna look like something that came out of a textbook . Let’s just be honest . Right ? So once you’ve made that , run it , run it by running by a teacher And see what they think you haven’t taught anything yet . But see what they think that is this lesson realistic . Does this make sense ? It ? Is this gonna work for Student Bradford ? Is this gonna work for student Greg ? Because you’re about to enter a space where you’re teaching 30 kids . And so you’re gonna teach kids with different personalities . I mean , there’s nothing , there’s nothing gonna be wrong with your lesson . But you also have to think now that you have to differentiate , differentiate the instruction , you also have to think I may have to modify lessen sometimes in the textbooks , those , those things aren’t there . Um Sometimes in the textbooks , it doesn’t mention that . Oh , I don’t have the supplies ready available . So um while you’re creating this dream lesson , run it by a teacher . And I’m saying a teacher , I would say a teacher , Lord , I can’t believe I’m saying this a teacher who has very limited resources , right ? By that type of teacher and then write it by another teacher who has a plethora of resources to see what they think . And then see if you can even teach that lesson in the class . The principal has not even seen it yet . Remember , I haven’t even said that Prince hasn’t seen it yet , but your teacher friends have and they could give you those that honest feedback . They can give you that honest feedback before you walk into the classroom . Because your teacher friends probably you might want to modify this , using the words modification , using the word differentiation , using um other buzzwords that principals will want to hear that . Oh my God , you know what this is , oh you know how to cater to the this kid and you haven’t even seen these kids yet . I’m not gonna say that’s gonna get you into the door , but the lesson is going to change . Make sure that because I don’t even know if I’m speaking Texas Greg . I know you speak New York , but even having those standards in your lesson , making sure that okay . I’m my objective . Is this the standard ? Is this making sure that’s in there and how you’re gonna teach them ? Make sure that’s in your lesson and how you’re gonna differentiate and that lesson . I think that’s very important . So I think I would say do those things before you walk into the room um and talk and talk to your principal . Yeah , definitely talk to the principal as well because you want to know what kind of students they’re gonna put you in front of and ask any questions ? Oh Greg , that is a good idea . Like um oh I didn’t , I didn’t even think about that , Greg . So whoever the , whoever you’re interviewing with . So like say your , your , your interview is that in A B C district at ? So and so elementary , you need to go in and research the demographics of that district , the background of that district because you may have to develop a lesson for G T or sped or whatever . So that would even get in the door if you know that okay . This is a um influential district . I may need to cater my lesson to look like this or this may be a title one district . I may need to develop my lesson like this or so if your principal sees like here are different ways that this lesson can look cause I’ve differentiated , that may even get you a foot in the door . And this brings the next question . How important do you think it is too with all these different text tech resources out there ? Do you think it’s important that you mentioned them in your resume ? It is um I wouldn’t mention a whole bunch um in my opinion . Um Just let them know that you are familiar with it um that you know , you can navigate in that space and that you know how to blend the learning into that space . Because what , what I think is important is that you are over killing the technology to students , there’s a blend , you gotta blend it , you know how to differentiate that instruction of that technology um to students . So let them know that . Okay . I am familiar with Microsoft and Google and a learning management system because actually technically you are familiar with the learning management system . Are you not because you’ve been in a student classroom ? I think that’s one , I don’t know if that’s one thing that students don’t realize is um depending on the university that you go to , you’re already in a learning management system , but you’re in it as a student , right ? So how does this now that you can write ? You know , I have experience as a student in a learning management system . But what did you use ? Oh , in my teaching school , we use blackboard or we used um canvas as a student . I have a feeling of how this would look . So as a student I could write it for , for this . So you’re already walking into the gate using a learning management system , that’s a stupid . So you could add that you add that into your resume . So again , when you are looking to teach for the first time and you’re getting into these classes , pay attention to the technology that’s been , that’s given to you . You’re not really , you , you’re not really uh becoming the expert and learning how to use it . You are the person that’s being that , that someone is implementing you into it . That makes sense . I don’t know if I’m using the right word . Um You’re learning how to use Google as a student . You’re learning how to use Microsoft in your head . You’re gonna be thinking , how am I going to be teaching Google or Microsoft or learning management system in there ? Those are like three main things that you can say you use . You don’t have to say I know how to use all these other grand tools . Um I don’t think there will be two to impress press with that . But um but having to say you have some background in technology would be great . I mean , I agree what you’re saying . But one thing for me personally , um maybe you might disagree with this is that I always like to put unique tech on my resume , virtual reality e sports education things out there today because the students I’ve had where they’re always like , um you know , they’re looking for jobs and they tell me , oh , you know , you taught me e sports with education . I’ve actually had a principal call up , but I do agree on , you know what you’re saying ? I just think that also um unique technology can be , you know , besides saying just robotics , like like a particular robot or , you know , a particular item like that . But you know , that’s just okay . I hear , I hear what you’re saying there . So what you’re saying though is you’re tying it to more I use technology as more of a again now that we know we know industry related . So because I’m , and I’m trying not to name a Pacific like , because I don’t want to do that . Um Like I , I don’t want to label like , oh , I know how to use this antique tool because for me that , that means I know how to use it . For me what you just said , e sports robotics , that’s the students know how to use it to get them something to get them to another point . I like that Greg because that makes sense because it’s more hands on . Not for you , Greg has to teach you to use , you already know how to use it and you’re gonna teach the kids how to use it so it can take them to somewhere else . I like that idea . That makes a lot of sense because it’s not , it’s not about you at that point . I know how to use it . I’m gonna teach my students how to use it so they can be more productive in using this later on in the future . I like that point . That’s a good idea . Yeah . Well , we always have good ideas being you before we put our heads together . And the last question I ask otherwise , you know , we can always be talking forever . Do you think it’s important for a teacher to develop a portfolio of the teaching and the references , the , you know , we all know , that they have to create one when they’re tenured and then they get tenure and then they just are like , whatever . But you think it’s important that a teacher creates a portfolio , video lessons that they’ve done or , you know , demos or , um , you know , evaluations and stuff . Do you think that’s important to have as you move through your career ? Even if you have tenure ? You know . Absolutely . I do . You know , it’s funny that you say that because I don’t know what I was doing . Actually , I do know what I was doing . Um I was looking uh going through YouTube and I saw all of my old stuff . We’re talking 2012 , And you would be amazed Gregg because like I’m looking at , well , look how far I’ve come and look how much more I have to grow from . So , yes , educated , you know , it feels like it’s one more thing or something that the district has makes us do and it doesn’t go anywhere . But this is how I look at portfolios , portfolios are your profession and you can take those anywhere . And when I had to do it for the district , I didn’t look at it as though the district is telling me to do this . So I’m just gonna be compliant and do it as a district . I used to says , this is my marketing tool . This is what I’m using to take me to the next point , whatever that point is gonna be and this is what I’m looking at to reflect on because I need something to reflect on personal like principal , I’m using your principal Greg may get give me a number 3456 , good , bad better or whatever , you know . That’s great that he gave me those numbers . But I used to go back and look at okay . Why did I get those numbers are , how can I make this lesson on this video better ? You know , next time or look what I did five years ago , how can I change that up ? So I think it’s very important that you document the good and the not so good things . I mean , yeah , you don’t , probably don’t want to put that in the portfolio if you’re trying to get a job . But um but yes , I think it’s very important to have the have a portfolio always at the ready . Um especially it works when you trust me educators , it works when you’re always trying to get a job , especially with tech . I will never forget when people ask me about the things that I’ve done . I would easily pull out my my tablet and my phone , here’s my link . Take a look at these things . So it wasn’t , I had to pull out a binder or resume . Yes , I had those at the ready but showing hr person or a principal admin on the spot no matter if it’s at a career fair or at a restaurant or whatever here , Eric Gregory , you know , us , here’s my card , like things like that . Educators , you’ve got to have a business mindset beyond the four walls of your room . You are a businessman . You are a business woman . You are now marketing yourself no matter if you’re trying to be an administrator or the next CEO or whatever , you need to document everything that you’re doing to show your growth . And if you’re trying to get to that next level , people want to see what you’re doing . That doesn’t . And no , I never said go on Twitter , go on linkedin . Go on all that stuff . Yes , that’s great . I do that . You want people who know me , see me do that . But if you can do that by you know , doing your own personal little videos , your own personal documents and having that all set up and ready to go that way when you give somebody your card or you want to show somebody your link , it’s at the ready . I think Greg . Yes . Continuing to grow and make a portfolio is so important . Yeah . And also I guess you just mentioned earlier people moving jobs , maybe you are 10 years or maybe you’re going but you want to become a college professor , you want to , you know , move to administration . People are gonna want to know what you’ve done throughout the year . Besides that one resume , they’re gonna say , do you have any samples , you can show me , especially in the field of education . I know for when I was hired as a teacher in college , they’ve asked me to provide them any kind of data , you know , any kind of videos or anything that you’ve done to show that you’re going to engage our students . Absolutely . Now , I will say on social media , even though a lot of educators either don’t want to be on it or on it , it is very , very powerful . Um I know from personal experience that that’s how I have gotten hired to do things because people watch what I have done , not trying to be show off or anything , but like , hey , I’ve seen your work . Let’s have a discussion . So the the interview then changes . Sometimes I don’t have to show a resume . I just have a conversation because they’ve seen the trajectory of my work because I digitally put it out there . What , what would I want to put out there ? But the converse , the interview conversation then changes . Once you decide , I’m gonna put myself out there and have my digital portfolio in this space . So people can see my work . That’s what we’re now teaching kids uh in this day and age now is go and put your work out there . Yeah , it may be rough . It may not look good , but this is about you’re being creative and improving each time you do it . So that’s another side of showing your portfolio in the social media space . So people can see what you’re doing , not to have critiques , but so people can watch and learn as they grow and as you grow . Exactly . And finally , you know , I just want to say , you know , it’s been a pleasure as always for our podcast and talk to you . And , you know , I’m hoping that our people who viewed this podcast actually picked up some really good tips because , you know , the teacher shortage is gonna go away one day and you want to be successful , especially if you want to get in those high need schools that really , you really want to do a good difference . And of course , you know , there are for a very , you know , decent paycheck and people need to , you know , for their families and you want to make sure you’re in that kind of location as well . Um So again , thank you , Bradford . It’s been a pleasure to have you again here and we will hopefully we’ll have , well , of course , I know you’ll return again soon . It was , it’s been a pleasure . I enjoy these conversations . Thanks , buddy . Bye .

From 00:00: Introduction From 00:53: Beginner Teacher CV From 03:12: Resume Checklist From 08:48: Extra Skills From 13:33: Networking From 18:16: Demo Lessons From 23:06: Tech Competency