Issue link: http://www.epageflip.net/i/1101409
37 What advice do you have for fellow educators in the career college sector of higher education? e first thing I would say is to be compassionate with yourself. When I first started teaching, I had an expectation that I would be great right out of the gate. I was wrong. ere is a learning curve when you start, but it gets better and better the more experience you get. Aer a year, I couldn't even remember feeling like I wasn't awesome. Next, I would say trust your instincts. Many times early on, I would second guess myself and it was always a mistake. Go with your gut; even if it doesn't work out, you will have learned a valuable lesson. Why are professional development and continuing education important to you? Just like being a professional technician, being an educator is signing on to be a lifelong learner. You are climbing a mountain with no top, and there is always more room for growth and development. Education is a field that really requires that you love learning. Embrace your whole skill set and concentrate on the areas you know are weak for you. Aer you tackle them, you can take your whole game to the next level. Continuing education is the key to challenging yourself to be the best you can be. What's one thing you think career education leaders can do to improve institutional performance? I think one thing we, as instructors, are uniquely qualified to do is to identify processes and practices that just don't work in the classroom setting and convey this to our administrators. Standing up for what you believe in is imperative. Getting administrators in the classroom regularly well help them stay engaged and will give them direct experience for what is happening on the ground. Working together with administrators is the key; they have a perspective that instructors do not, and we as instructors see what they cannot. Collaboration can create an evolving environment that works for everyone. CHEP Certification The CHEP certification recognizes employees of career schools, colleges, and universities who strive for excellence in their respective positions, with the ultimate goal of enabling institutions to develop high- performing, compliant, and ethical employees to better serve students. CHEPs have successfully completed forty- eight hours of approved training in their area of concentration and are required to complete eight hours of approved training annually to maintain their certification. Visit www.cheponline.org to learn more about the CHEP certification.