Want a Successful Career in Education? Give it Time, Get Experience, Add Value
In a competitive city like Washington, D.C., where it seems like everyone is out to climb the career ladder, getting your foot in the door and then securing a leadership role can sometimes feel out of reach. But at the bi-annual EduJobs event hosted by YEP-DC, young and aspiring professionals in the education sector were told by seasoned professionals that all you really need to do is focus on adding value to an organization.
Photo taken by Kecia Easley
Jason Weedon, senior vice president at Achieve who has been a major factor in the organization's doubling in size, kicked off the event by sharing the various roles he has held at his organization since 1999. Though his early career involved teaching and working abroad on higher education initiatives, his journey came to a turning point when he moved back to the United States and came to work for Achieve to help manage its education summits. (Achieve is a nonprofit that works with states to raise academic standards and graduation requirements). His position there evolved over the years as he moved up to play a critical role in maintaining relationships with foundations and corporations in support of Achieve's projects.
For Weedon, success means dedicating time and effort to making a difference. With length of tenure came seniority and with seniority came freedom of choice in how he wanted to direct and lead initiatives within Achieve. "Give yourself time to achieve in your organization," advised Weedon. "Understand a company's motivations, and try to become the master at fulfilling those goals."
Staying at a company for years can sometimes be a challenge, given that work environments can come equipped with tough personalities and difficult experiences. But Weedon threw a few words of caution to those contemplating jumping around. He explained that it's always a red flag for him when he sees several nine-month and one-year tenures on a resume.
On the contrary, Bridget Kelly, director of district engagement at City Year, a nonprofit organization that partners with school districts to offer student support and interventions, talked to attendees during the breakout sessions about the benefits of having worked in several different jobs over the past few years. Her stints include serving as a program officer for the U.S. Department of Education's Race to the Top program and working for uAspire, an organization that helps make college affordable for students.
"I think my experiences represent different dimensions of how I have come to add value to an organization," said Kelly. For Kelly, her jumps from being a journalist to teaching English in Honduras to working in education policy have all helped her narrow her direction and added to her growth as a dynamic employee. YEP-DC also proved to be an effective networking organization for her, as she was introduced to City Year through someone she connected with at a YEP-DC event.
Kelly encouraged the professionals at her table to seek out and jump into new initiatives because they allow individuals to truly show their creativity and fortitude. Individuals are more likely to pave their own paths and determine the direction of a program when it's a new initiative that isn't yet established, she explained.
Toward the end of his keynote, Weedon summarized what his 20-plus-year career has taught him in five bullets, offering words of advice to a roomful of young education professionals ready to network:
Find your personal compass. Make an effort to know what makes you happy and who you are. Identify your personal strengths and weaknesses.
Set professional goals and revisit them on a regular basis.
Surround yourself with people who support you. Find mentors.
Let no one be a stranger. Build networks. Volunteer, join boards, and find like-minded people.
Keep your eyes open for unexpected doors and walk through them. Take that risk.
Weedon also emphasized that job titles should not be anyone's sole motivation. "Don't get hung up on titles," he said. "All you need to worry about are your achievements and that you're a valuable asset to an organization."
Francesca Duffy is a communications and advocacy specialist at a national association for school superintendents. She can be reached via email or Twitter.
YEP-DC is a nonpartisan group of education professionals who work in research, policy, and practice – and even outside of education. The views expressed here are only those of the attributed author, not YEP-DC. This blog aims to provide a forum for our group's varied opinions. It also serves as an opportunity for many more professionals in DC and beyond to participate in the ongoing education conversation. We hope you chime in, but we ask that you do so in a considerate, respectful manner. We reserve the right to modify or delete any content or comments. For any more information or for an opportunity to blog, contact us via one of the methods below.
MONICA GRAY is co-founder & president of DreamWakers, an edtech nonprofit. She writes on education innovation and poverty.
LYDIA HALL is a legislative aide in the U.S. House of Representatives, where she works on education, civil rights, and other issues. Lydia is interested in helping to bridge the gap between Capitol Hill and the classroom.
MOSES PALACIOS is an advocate for student rights and works as a Research Manager for the Council of the Great City Schools (CGCS) - a coalition of urban school districts across the nation. He writes on issues regarding the children of immigrants and students learning English as a second language. His views are his own and not representative of CGCS.
PATRICIA RUANE is a
research associate at an education nonprofit. She is an editor of Recess.
LESLIE WELSH is a high school social studies teacher in DC. She is an editor of Recess.
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