Professional Goal Statement Ralph Arndt

Who is Ralph Arndt, you may ask? Where has he been and where is he headed as an
educator? How will he handle a rigorous online learning environment? These are the
questions I will attempt to answer in the following essay. As I have previously stated, my name
is Ralph Arndt. I currently teach a combined grade three/four class at Ministik Elementary in
Sherwood Park, Alberta, Canada. I am 35 years old and have been teaching for 11 years. When
I reflect on this experience, I can truly say that all students have the capacity to learn. They
may learn at different rates, utilize varying learning styles and have different background
knowledge when they reach me. It is my task, as a teacher, to learn as much as I can about my
students to cater to their individual needs.
Where has Ralph Arndt been? I began my career as a grade three teacher on two First
Nation reserves. It was quite the culture shock for me as I was raised in a middle class home
where education was a priority. I had students with learning difficulties and less than stellar
home lives. During Parent-Teacher Interviews I would only get two sets of parents over the
course of the two evenings. These situations were definite obstacles to overcome. I quickly
learned the unspoken rule that new teachers received the challenging classes. During my two
years in these schools, I was able to organize extra-curricular activities, attended community
functions and work with my students in class to really get to know them. I truly felt that I made
a difference in my students lives, for the better. In an attempt to be closer to family and
friends, I returned to Edmonton, Alberta to find employment closer to home. After searching
for permanent employment, I was eventually able to land a position in Elk Island Public Schools.
I have been at Ministik Elementary since September, 2004. I have always taken a huge role in
extra-curricular activities. Each year, I plan and organize the track and field day, Terry Fox Run
for Cancer Research, Intramurals, Running Club, and Lego Robotics Club. I have also taken
initiative in my own and others professional growth. I was lead teacher in our district AISI III
and AISI IV cycles (Alberta Initiative for School Improvement). I learned best practices in
Inquiry, Mathematics and Technology through these district initiatives, and then, mentored my
fellow teachers at the school level. Each cycle took 3 years to complete. Because of my
involvement and dedication to our school, I was asked by administration to be Teacher in
Charge. When administration is away, I oversee the smooth running of our school. When I
look back, I can honestly say that I am proud of my accomplishments thus far and would like to
experience new challenges in the future.
What are Ralph Arndts goals for the future? One challenge that Im genuinely
interested in pursuing is obtaining my Masters in Education. I am looking to widen my
knowledge base and opportunities for advancement in my district. I believe that the
completion of a Masters Degree in Curriculum and Instruction would facilitate this goal. I
believe myself to be a lifelong learner. When you teach it is important to be on the cutting
edge of current practices and research. I have already taken on many leadership roles at my
school but have hit the ceiling so to speak with the current level of education I possess. The
requirement for becoming an assistant principal or principal is the successful completion of a
Masters Degree. In short, this degree will open up the options I have in my current district.
The MSEd program at the University of New England will allow me the flexibility to complete a
higher level degree and maintain a full-time teaching position. I am excited about the prospect
of taking information learned in the MSEd program and directly applying it to my classroom.
Will Ralph Arndt succeed as an online learner? I am confident that I will succeed in an
online learning environment. I have an extensive knowledge of technological tools used in the
classroom such as SmartBoards, Smart Response Clickers, and web 2.0 applications. I have
created an online learning environment for my students on Edmodo. I would describe Edmodo
as Facebook for education. Assignments, important dates, grades, blogs are posted on this
website. My students use GoogleDocs to create and collaborate on assignments. I build and
maintain a website for my classroom to communicate with parents. My home laptop has all the
necessary hardware and software to participate in online discussions and craft assignments. I
recently presented at our school Professional Development Day on how to create digital math
journals using Notebook software. I am always on the lookout for new applications to use in
my classroom. Teachers at my school come to me when they have questions or problems with
using technology.
I feel that I am motivated and have the necessary skills to complete the MSEd program.
I have always taken steps to ensure that I stay on top of best practices. The more adept I am in
current educational practices, the more successful my students will be navigating this 21
st

century world of ours. I look forward to taking the next step in my career with the University of
New England. Thank-you very much for your time and consideration.