Today we’d like to introduce you to Megan Williams.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Megan. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I started my teaching career in 2014 after graduating from The University of Texas. I grew up in Lake Highlands and knew that when I started looking for a job, I wanted to come right back to the district that raised me, Richardson ISD. I spent two years as a 5th grade teacher at Wallace Elementary School. Then, I moved down to 2nd grade for a year and looped up with my students to 3rd grade the following year. I graduated with my Master’s in Educational Leadership in December of 2017. My master’s program challenged me and taught me so much about the administrative side of the education system. After I graduated, I knew that I wanted to find a leadership position within a school. I am currently a Campus Reading Specialist at Merriman Park Elementary School where I have the opportunity to work with teachers and students in Kindergarten through 6th grade. It has been a whirlwind in the world of education over the last few years, and I’ve seen so much change for teachers inside of schools and out.
One of the main things that has grown recently is the impact that social media has on educators all across the country and world. About three years ago, after following several Instagram accounts of teachers who posted content and lesson ideas, I decided to create my own teacher Instagram. I created the handle @mswilliamsyall right before attending the Get Your Teach On conference in Dallas because I wanted to be able to connect with other teachers that I met. I remember creating my first post and thinking about the possibilities for connection and creativity that could happen in the future with my little account. I never imagined that an Instagram account would connect me with some of my closest friends and provide me with amazing opportunities and resources! Through social media, a few teacher friends and I began volunteering and then working as a part of the Get Your Teach On conference team. This passion project has become a massive educational organization that reaches teachers all over the world. It focuses on engagement, motivation, and creativity in day-to-day lessons and encourages teachers to think outside the box when planning educational experiences for their students.
We’ve had the incredible opportunity to travel coast-to-coast both helping behind the scenes at the conference and presenting. When I think about how Instagram connected us all in the first place, it amazes me! I’ve met some of the most creative and innovative educators in the world all because of the internet! I continue to post on my teacher Instagram, Tweet, write blogs and connect with educators all over. I understand the negative effects that social media can have on a profession that relies so heavily on creativity and is so stressful. There have been times when I’ve felt that comparison was the thief of joy. I’ve sat and looked at different accounts and compared resources, time, ideas, etc. but we all have to remind ourselves that we can use this creative outlet for good! We can share ideas that help our students learn and grow through the experiences that they will remember for a lifetime.
Has it been a smooth road?
Education is a constantly changing profession. Over the last six years, my district has experienced technology changes, curriculum adoptions, standards revisions, and much more! Teachers have to be on their toes at all times ready to meet high expectations. There are often limited resources, sleepless nights, challenging conversations, and lots and lots of to-do lists! The hardest part about being a new teacher was feeling so prepared after leaving college and then having so many experiences in the classroom that were never taught or found in a textbook! This is unique to teaching because so many other professions go into their field ready for twists and turns, but as teachers, we are learning as we go! That stands true six years into this career as well, and especially now that my job is working more with adult learners and teachers instead of a classroom full of my students. I vividly remember the door closing after the bell rang on my first day as a teacher in 2014. I stood looking at the 28 kids who were probably just as nervous as I was, and I thought to myself, “Alright, this is it! What now?” It’s safe to say I’ve come a long way since then! Every parent conversation, professional development, student behavior challenge, leadership opportunity, and curriculum struggle along the way has helped shape me into the educator I am today. I’m thankful for the challenges and the blessings all the same. Someone once told me that everything that you hear about being a teacher is true, from the long nights and the empty pockets to the feeling you get when it finally “clicks” with a student and knowing that you’re making a lifelong impact on someone. While it can be tiring, overwhelming, and unpredictable, it is the best job in the world.
Tell us more about your work.
It’s still hard to think of myself as a “business,” but as social media continues to change, I am ready to adapt to it! I primarily use my teacher Instagram, @mswilliamsyall, to share ideas that I’ve seen and used in my school. I occasionally share products and books that I feel like my followers would enjoy. I’ve worked with several companies to promote and share education-focused tools to use in the classroom as well. In a world where there are now hundreds of thousands of teacher Instagram accounts, I believe what sets people apart is the ability to be personable and a “real” teacher behind the handle. Showing the stress along with the bright and shiny! It is amazing to see all of the incredible things that educators are doing all over the world, and I love being able to shout out the awesome things teachers at my school are doing in my tiny corner of the internet. I also love to connect with teachers that message and contact me through Instagram and Twitter. I’ve made some pretty great friends that way!
How do you think the industry will change over the next decade?
I’ve seen so much shift and adjustment in the last six years, so I can only imagine what the future holds. One of the biggest changes has been technology in the classroom. We are a one-to-one district, which means each student and teacher has access to a device. As the ability to access technology becomes easier for students, we will have to adjust how we teach and how they learn. We’re no longer using dial-up with occasional access to the internet! It makes me wonder what college classes will look like for our Kindergartners. As the times shift, we’ve got to stay on our toes and continue to grow as learners ourselves. That is part of what makes teaching so fun and rewarding!
Contact Info:
- Website: mswilliamsyall.weebly.com
- Email: mswilliamsyall@gmail.com
- Instagram: @mswilliamsyall
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mswilliamsyall/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/mswilliamsyall
Image Credit:
Kirby Betancourt
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