Significant Career Lesson From A Director At Special Education Consulting
Anjanette, a Director at Special Education Consulting with 25 years in public education and 3 years as a consultant, highlights the crucial lesson of "constantly be[ing] aware that things are changing" in education; this necessitates continuous improvement and a willingness to adapt to evolving student needs and technological advancements, helping organizations overcome inertia and embrace change.
Adaptability, Change Management, Continuous Improvement, Educational Reform, Systems Thinking
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Anjanette Pelletier
Director
Special EducationConsulting
UC Berkeley
Cal State Hayward, Masters in Clincial Child School Psychology
Psychology
Coaching, Speaking & Writing, Education
Education
Honors Student, Scholarship Recipient, Pell Grant Recipient, Worked 20+ Hours in School, First Generation College Student
Video Highlights
1. The field of education is constantly evolving, requiring professionals to adapt to changes in curriculum, learning styles, and student needs.
2. Educational consultants play a crucial role in helping schools and organizations adapt to these changes by updating processes, systems, and approaches to education.
3. A career in educational consulting or related fields demands a commitment to continuous learning and improvement, embracing new technologies and addressing the diverse needs of students.
Transcript
What is one lesson that you have learned that has proven significant in your career?
I am an education consultant now, a role I've held for three years. This follows 25 years in public education.
The primary lesson I've learned is that we must constantly be aware of change. Our work in education is never truly finished. This is true as curriculum, ways of learning, and our understanding of student needs evolve.
We are shifting focus from areas like cursive handwriting and multiplication tables to the future of technology integration and addressing the neurodiversity needs of students. All these changes underscore the constant need to be prepared and informed about how the future will impact education.
As an educational consultant, I see firsthand that our primary work is with those who recognize their systems are stuck. Often, these systems are stuck in the past, with practices unchanged for years. Alternatively, some are trying to innovate but are held back by outdated elements that haven't kept pace with necessary changes.
Therefore, I believe there's always room for improvement; we are never done. In education, we discuss cycles of continuous improvement. To achieve this, we must adopt an inquisitive stance: What needs to change? What should we let go of? Where are we heading?
The key lesson is to be ready and prepared for change, and then to help others implement it effectively.
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