The Unfinished Teacher: Becoming the Next Version of Yourself helps educators to take an introspective look at their growth and development. This topic is timely due partly to the national teacher shortage and the rampant levels of burnout being reported nationally, including by the National Educators Association. The intent of this book is to help teachers reclaim their "why" and to provide prospective teachers with a view into their professional future. As we continue to reimagine the value of a teacher, we must provide a guide for those in the profession to help them to remain unfinished. Written as a self-help and teacher-focused leadership book, this book does not follow the typical form of an instructional or pedagogical guidebook. This is not a lesson planning book, though the book addresses the need for individual personal, professional, and interpersonal development. Our focus is on helping you create the next version of yourself.
Michael Lubelfeld, Nick Polyak, and PJ Caposey are three public school educators who have served as teachers, school administrators, and superintendents with nearly a century of service combined. Together with speaking, consulting, coaching, and writing, these three educators have thousands of hours of observation, co-teaching, and teaching as their foundation for the call to action in this book. Michael Lubelfeld, Nick Polyak, and PJ Caposey are authors, presenters, superintendents, and friends. They are accomplished leaders who, like us all, are unfinished works in progress.
Acknowledgements Foreword by Kim Radostits, Illinois Teacher of the Year 2023 and National Teacher of the Year Finalist Preface Introduction Section 1: Personal Growth: Who You Are as an Individual Chapter 2: Awareness Chapter 3: Personal and Social-Emotional Health Chapter 4: Financial Health and Wellness Teacher Vignette - Mr. Jon Bogie, 4th Grade Teacher Wayne Thomas School Essay - Teaching has always been a challenge; that's why we like it so much. Jon Bogie, 4th Grade Teacher, Wayne Thomas School, Highland Park, Illinois Section 2: Individual & Interpersonal Professional Growth and Change, Who You Are as a Teacher in the Classroom & Who You Are as a Professional Chapter 5: Curriculum, Standards, Assessment and Data Chapter 6: Meeting the Needs of Each Child Chapter 7: Technology Chapter 8: Teacher & Staff Morale Chapter 9: Conclusion References About the Authors
"The key to sustaining joy is creating renewable growth of ourselves and others. Mike, Nick & PJ utilize their years of experience, their hearts, and their unflagging passion to exhort us to reinvigorate our pursuit of growth even when we feel tired or overwhelmed. By strengthening the educators and leaders, we find the entire community experiences quantifiable positive growth." -- Shawn Achor, New York Times best-selling author of The Happiness Advantage and Big Potential "The path of an educator is never the same and often a difficult yet rewarding journey. In The Unfinished Teacher: Becoming the Next Version of Yourself, we are asked to look within ourselves and reflect on what really brought us into education in the first place. To identify and reclaim our why while also challenging us with a call to action. Great teachers do not just sit on the sidelines watching the game being played. There are no shadows in education and for that we must reassess our teaching methods, assessment strategies, and ultimately what draws us into our schools and classrooms each and every year, which is our students. Bringing our best and making our game plan in the classroom fit the needs of our students. Not only becoming the next version of ourselves as educators but helping our students become the next and best versions of themselves as they build a love of learning." -- Jonathan Alsheimer, Teacher, Speaker, Author "The Unfinished Teacher is brilliant! It honors the role that growth and development must have in the success of a teacher. The authors begin with a powerful and inspiring charge: '...stay unfinished and [to] commit to becoming the next version of yourself!' Each chapter provides a guiding question to help the reader think reflectively about the key principles as well as takeaways and discussion questions that serve as a clear pathway to reflect on and apply the core ideas presented. Unfinished Teacher honors and amplifies the privilege of being a teacher with the power to positively impact a child's life. As a former kindergarten teacher and current Dean of the National College of Education, I was particularly moved by these words 'This is it. This is the call to action. We collectively belong to the best profession in the world. On any given day we have the unique opportunity to change the trajectory of a child's life. However, if our teachers are collectively on the verge of burnout to the point their personal physical and social-emotional health is in jeopardy, then we must take action.' Clearly, these authors care deeply about teachers and the field of education. They are undeniably aware of the challenges faced by teachers and have written this book to serve as a guide to navigating and growing in spite of those challenges. Unfinished Teacher is practical, honest, and refreshing." -- Dr. Carolyn Theard-Griggs, Dean of the National College of Education at National Louis University "In their engaging book, The Unfinished Teacher: Becoming the Next Version of Yourself, this powerhouse trio of educational leaders-Mike Lubelfeld, PJ Caposey, and Nick Polyak-leverage their collective knowledge and extensive experience spanning over 100 years of dedicated service. This well-crafted book offers educators a treasure trove of insightful and actionable ideas, which foster personal reflection and promote self-growth through a unique blend of expertise and practicality. Whether you are at the beginning of your teaching career or have decades of experience, The Unfinished Teacher: Becoming the Next Version of Yourself is an invaluable resource that speaks to all educators. With its helpful insights and enduring messages, this is the type of book that you will return to repeatedly, regardless of your tenure in the field." -- Andrea Trudeau, school librarian "The Unfinished Teacher is a commonsense and immensely valuable response to the unavoidable truth that difficulty increases exponentially for teachers year after year. Lubelfeld, Caposey and Polyak remind us that personal growth and attention to one's physical, mental, emotional and financial health are essential for sustaining joy and learning over the duration of a career in education." -- Tom Philion, Ph.D., Dean, Daniel L. Goodwin College of Education, Northeastern Illinois University "In their book, The Unfinished Teacher: Becoming the Next Version of Yourself, Lubelfeld, Caposey, and Polyak do a great job of examining how to move to the next level as a teacher. I particularly like their exploration of the importance of being an effective teammate in education. They make a compelling case for the need to go beyond being a great teacher in the classroom and emphasize the significance of collaboration and collective efficacy. The discussion of autonomy, self-awareness, and the purpose of collaboration offers practical insights and tips for educators to reconcile their desire for autonomy with the need to work effectively as part of a team. Because as I always say, it is the best team that wins!" -- Brad Johnson, keynote speaker and author
