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Instructional Leadership Student: Michael Holt

Michael Holt was drawn to the field of education not only because the significant appeal of "service" work, but also because it is a "field of ideas and exploration." After 12 years teaching English Language Arts and history at an urban middle school, where he has inspired students with a love of Shakespeare and Tennessee Williams plays, Holt hopes to further what he sees as his mission in education giving "students access to learning situations that are as close to the real world as possible."

What attracted you to the Instructional Leadership strand of the program?
For years, I have been involved in debates over the language arts curriculum as the pressure of standardized tests and the arrival of applications for advanced high school has slowly reshaped the demands on the profession. Much of what I have been concerned with defending has involved writing and reading. The Instructional Leadership strand seemed like a great opportunity to solidify my understanding of this intersection, especially as much research focuses on the power of writing to create understanding.

What do you think are the biggest misconceptions about teaching?
I think the biggest misconception is that teaching is easy. People want teachers to be nice, yet maintain rigorous academic and behavioral standards for their students. They want teachers to be flexible and fair, sensitive, yet not soft. They want teachers to be experts in their subject matter, yet respectful of student knowledge. They want teachers to be creative, yet teach to the test, or at least have their students perform well on tests. These sometimes contradictory demands are difficult to meet. Oh, and then there's the hours that go into the job, the planning, the grading, the extracurricular activities, and the demands for professional growth. It is not an easy job.

What do you most hope to get out of your year at HGSE?
I hope to become a better teacher who has a stronger conception of where I stand in all the debates over education. I also hope to increase my ability to cooperate more effectively with the adults in education, so we can improve instruction together.

What is you favorite part of teaching in your subject area?
I adore teaching essay writing. There is something about taking all our discursive, creative thoughts and extending them in a linear argument that has always appealed to me. As a teacher, helping students develop this hard won ability is a simultaneous joy and mission.

Any plans for when you return to the classroom next year?
As I seem to be spending much of this semester investigating effective writing instruction, setting up a writing center at my middle school where I broadcast some of these instructional practices into the larger school culture has an immense appeal.

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