Favorite Parts Of Being A Learning Specialist At California Middle School
Dan, a Learning Specialist, finds the greatest joy in the positive relationships built with students, citing the ability to "affect a young person in a very positive way" as a key aspect of the role. The lasting impact of these connections, such as a student recalling a past quote years later, further reinforces the rewarding nature of supporting students' learning journeys and helping them overcome challenges.
Mentorship, Positive Relationships, Educational Strategies, Student Support, Impactful Teaching
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Dan McCauley
Learning Specialist
California Middle School
New York University, 2017
Relay Graduate School of Education, Masters in the Art of Teaching
Education
Education
Education
Former Foster Youth, Honors Student, Scholarship Recipient, Pell Grant Recipient, Took Out Loans, Worked 20+ Hours in School
Video Highlights
1. Building positive relationships with students and teachers.
2. Helping students overcome learning challenges and find success.
3. Witnessing the long-term impact of mentorship and support on students' lives.
Transcript
What do you enjoy most about being a resource specialist?
Relationships are everything. As a resource specialist, you have the ability and opportunity to positively affect a young person by being a positive, stable, and competent person. This can be for one year or three.
There's nothing like seeing a student struggling, hitting a wall. You tell them to take a break and come back to it, but you also show them a different way to learn. Learning is not personal to them; they are not bad for not understanding.
You can give them the tools where they can succeed, teaching them in that way. Or, four years after teaching a student, you might see them at their graduation. They might recall a quote you once wrote them on a note, and you see that the words you gave them are still sticking with them.
So, I think just the relationships and the opportunity you have to affect the lives of young people is probably the biggest joy of my role.
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