Educational Excellence: Professional and Personal Growth

Going back to special instances as a member of DKG for many years, I recall how I was encouraged by a coworker to attend a DKG meeting. It was a time when I was very timid and only related to a small circle of teachers and friends. To my astonishment, I learned about this organization and how it supported teachers from many places in the world. I also learned how DKG assisted educators of all levels and disciplines to grow professionally and personally.

Today, many years later, I ask my fellow members these questions: Why did you decide to improve yourself as a professional? Was it that you had mentors who encouraged you? Was it a personal goal to excel in your career or to reeducate yourself in another field? On the other hand, was it your aim to reach the highest level of professional degrees or maybe was it a family goal to reach the educational level that would make a difference to you and your family? These are some of the valid reasons why someone would work to attain these educational goals. DKG did that for me. My answer to all the questions is yes. I reached the highest level when I graduated from my doctoral studies. As a member I was encouraged and supported by my DKG members and at the same time accomplished the vision of DKG which is to support its members in their educational endeavors.

The organization’s Educational Excellence Committee (EEC) can help members to set priorities through multiple options that can be found on the DKG website. I will focus on three of the major areas that support the professional and personal growth of DKG members. The website provides valuable information on Committees, Resources, and Programs and Projects.

Educational Excellence Committee - The committee shall support programs of action that promote the personal well-being, intellectual growth, and global awareness of women educators; encourage a focus on the arts at international conventions, regional conferences and state organization conventions; and develop strategies that will enable chapters to encourage members to become leaders.

I would encourage you, if you are interested in advanced studies, to check in the Resources section on the second tab, where you can find information on scholarships.

Scholarship Tools - The Scholarship Tips Sheet provides tips on how to work on one of the seven purposes of Delta Kappa Gamma Society International which is “To endow scholarships to aid outstanding women educators in pursuing graduate study and to grant fellowships to non-member women educators.” This tip sheet offers suggestions as to how chapters can aid members who may be interested in applying for scholarships.

Under the About Us>Committees>Scholarship section of the DKG website, up to thirty (30) DKG scholarships are awarded annually in the amount of $6,000 (U.S.) for work toward a master’s degree and $10,000 (U.S.) for work at the doctorate level.

Finally, I would advise you to explore how DKG is supporting its members through Programs and Projects such as the support for early career educators

SEE (Support for Early Career Educators) - The Delta Kappa Gamma Society International established Supporting Early-career Educators (SEE) as its second international project during the 2012 International Convention in New York City. SEE encourages members/chapters to be creative in support of early-career educators with a variety of strategies, such as 1) giving support for phone calls and visits, 2) helping with lesson plans and bulletin board ideas, 3) offering advice on classroom management and parent-teacher relations, and 4) providing support in appropriate and practical ways.

DKG has multiple ways to lead its members to gain access to professional development, scholarships, personal growth, and a variety of demonstrations of the talents and accomplishments that might have been hidden on many occasions or maybe were not explored. Take the time to go through these suggested areas of what DKG has to offer. I can assure you that DKG helped me in many ways to search and apply for committees and grow professionally and as a leader. You will succeed and DKG is here to support you!

We encourage you to research the DKG website for a wealth of resources which will help you grow personally and professionally. Don’t hesitate to reach out to an EEC member for assistance!