What do you do if you're a mid-career teacher wanting to shape curriculum and educational policy?

If you want to influence the curriculum, you need to contribute actively to your Professional Learning Community (PLC) within your school. Then volunteer as part of a district level curriculum group. Next, hopefully you will be recognized as a district teacher leader and be recommended for a state curriculum panel.

Self-Assessment for Curriculum Shaping: Reflect on Skills: Evaluate your teaching career to recognize strengths like curriculum design, classroom management, or student engagement strategies. Skill Translation: Consider how your existing skills can be applied to curriculum development or policy-making within the educational field. Identify Growth Areas: Identify areas for professional development, such as educational law comprehension or policy research methods, to broaden your expertise. Charting a Course: Use self-awareness to set goals, determine the direction of your curriculum shaping journey, and identify any additional knowledge or qualifications required for success.

Curriculum design or change is necessary because, the nature of human changes from time to time. The curriculum is a tool that can be used to serve a purpose. The curriculum can provide the needed societal values, aspiration, standards and beliefs and taboos. The curriculum provides systemization of the education needed by the society.

Pursuing Additional Qualifications for Influencing Educational Policy: Research Graduate Programs: Explore graduate programs in education policy or curriculum development that align with your career objectives. Certifications in Leadership: Consider obtaining certifications in educational leadership or administration to enhance your credibility and expertise. Professional Development: Recognize that these additional qualifications showcase your dedication and knowledge in the field, making you a more competitive candidate for roles that involve shaping education policy.

Building a Network for Education Policy Influence: Attend Conferences: Participate in education conferences to connect with industry professionals and stay updated on policy trends. Join Associations: Become a member of professional education associations to network with peers and access resources for career advancement. Online Connections: Engage with educators online through platforms like LinkedIn or education forums to expand your network virtually. Mentorships and Collaborations: Seek mentorship opportunities, collaborate with others in the field, and learn from their experiences to deepen your understanding of educational policy.

Start sharing your journey, not just the results and insights. Most share from an experts position instead of a learning perspective. This way you can start immediately instead of thinking you are not good enough and need more knowledge to get started.

Sharing Your Ideas in Education: Create Content: Write articles, start a blog, or present at educational conferences to share your insights and perspectives as a teacher. Establish as a Thought Leader: Use your unique perspective to position yourself as a thought leader in education, contributing to the ongoing discourse in the field. Visibility and Opportunities: Increased visibility through sharing ideas can lead to involvement in committees or task forces focused on curriculum design or policy reform. Expertise Showcase: Your contributions will showcase your expertise, dedication, and commitment to enhancing education, potentially opening doors to impactful roles in shaping educational policies and practices.

Volunteering for Educational Committees and Boards: School and State Involvement: Volunteer for committees or advisory boards within your school district or at the state level where curriculum choices and policy decisions are made. Advocacy and Influence: Use these roles to advocate for change and implement your ideas in real-world educational settings. Valuable Experience: Gain invaluable experience through these positions, as they provide practical insights into educational decision-making and policy implementation. Path to Influence: Serving on committees or boards can serve as a stepping stone to more influential roles and opportunities for shaping educational policies and practices.

Volunteer with your local union or association. Learn how to lobby and do that when you can. Find out the ranking members of your state’s senate and representatives and follow protocol in getting on their schedules, present your requests and work towards a solution that benefits as many people as possible.

If you really want to shape curriculum then you need to be in an academic leadership position. Choose the subject of your strength and apply to be head of it. Assess your school's strengths and weaknesses and create an action plan. Prioritise. If you are Head of English, then your focus might be phonics, reading, writing... You need to be on the top of your game as you are a lead teacher. Educate yourself further by pursuing NPQ in leading literacy or even NPQSL. Do not do leadership alone! Having a mentor is very important, but at the same time you will be mentoring others as well. Remember, you do not only need great subject knowledge but great people skills as well. Be a supportive role model and you will get a buy in.