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Carol Hofer
30 Plays2 years ago
We fly over to the midwest! We got a fun conversation with Carol Hofer coming up for you. She is a National Board Certified Teacher in Indianapolis, Indiana. We talk about her journey to becoming an NBCT, talk about the importance of a mentor while going through the process, and learn some things about her outside the classroom. Get more tips from Carol about the National Board process.
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Transcript
Introduction and Carol Hofer's Teaching Journey
00:00:00
Speaker
What's up, y'all? We fly over to Midwest today. I got a fun conversation with Carol Hofer coming up for you. She's a National Board-certified teacher in Indianapolis, Indiana. We talk about her journey to becoming an NBCT, talk about the importance of a mentor while going through the process. I learned a few things about her outside the classroom. I won't keep you away much longer. Here's my conversation with Carol Hofer. Hey, Carol. How you doing today? Hi. Good to see you, Eddie. Good to be with you today.
00:00:26
Speaker
You too, it feels like we've been trying to connect for a little while, so I'm excited to finally do this. The first time around I was a little sick, so we had the cancer, but now I'm excited to finally do this and get the chat in with you. So we'll kick it off real quick. Can you give us a short introduction? Tell us your current role and where you at?
00:00:43
Speaker
Yes, I'm an English as a new language teacher or ESL, ESOL, you choose whichever letters of the alphabet soup you want. Basically I work with students who speak another language at home. I work at the elementary level and this year I am working primarily with third, fourth and fifth graders in a public school in Indianapolis. Oh man, Indianapolis.
Impact of National Board Certification
00:01:12
Speaker
Can you share what brought you, how did you stumble into becoming a teacher? Can you share why you became a teacher? Stumbling is the right word. That's what happened. I stumbled into it. When I graduated from college, I had two internships.
00:01:30
Speaker
And in between my internships, I had to earn some money. And so somebody suggested, oh, why don't you become a substitute teacher? That's a really good way to make money. And so that's how I stumbled into it. I became a substitute teacher and talk about just trial by fire, right? Because you never knew what each day was going to bring, but it was a great experience. I love the energy. I love being around the,
00:02:00
Speaker
the kids, and then I went ahead and got my license. But even after I got my license, I didn't go into teaching. I was doing public relations in Miami for the community college down there. But I found that during my lunchtime, we had some students that were helpers in the college. So during my lunchtime, I was helping them.
00:02:27
Speaker
We'd come, they'd say I'd be tutoring, that sort of thing. And then somebody also offered that I could teach an evening class. And I'm like, man, I'm a teacher. That's really where my heart is. So then I jumped and went into teaching. Initially, I was a high school teacher.
00:02:51
Speaker
I've taught high school, I've taught middle school. You've been all over the place. Yeah, yeah, preschool. I mean, I've had students from ages three to 83. Oh, seriously. Yes, yes. So it's good because it keeps me always whenever I'm doing something, I always look at the long range.
00:03:10
Speaker
Okay, what's being a lifelong learner? So I was, even though right now I'm working with elementary age kids, I was like, okay, you know, they grow up fast, they're gonna become adults. Where do I want to see them 10, 20, 30, 40 years from now? What are they gonna need? What are the tools? How can I help them prepare for that?
00:03:33
Speaker
And that's something that goes into board certifications. So why did you decide to pursue become a National Board Certified Teacher and pursue board certification? It's interesting because there's another National Board Certified Teacher who joined our staff this year and she and I were talking and she said to me, I was bored. And that's kind of like when you're just at that point where something is just like,
00:04:03
Speaker
you're kind of feel like you're just kind of moving along going through the motions and you're just like okay I need to something add something change something think about something and what I loved about national board certification and usually what I talk about I kind of
00:04:24
Speaker
compare it to when you go to the chiropractor, like your kind of things are kind of not in alignment and you just kind of need something like, okay, I just really need, I need to realign things. So it's kind of the idea of like, okay, why am I a teacher? What am I doing? What is essential to me? What is important? What do I need?
00:04:51
Speaker
Let me show you
Mentoring and the Certification Process
00:04:52
Speaker
what I do it because it's not just what you've done, what you're able to do, but it's because you have that reflective piece. It's always like, okay, what is the next step? What would you do differently next time? So that is a very important part of all this because you're analyzing. This is how I do things. This is what I would change. So would you say that was the biggest thing to
00:05:22
Speaker
To helping you grow as a teacher while going through the process like how did going through becoming a board certified teacher help you in your role as a, as a current teacher there. It really helps you with that reflective piece. Um, and it's, I, what I really liked about it too.
00:05:42
Speaker
I was part of the initial group when they started doing where you could just do one component because prior to that, they've revised things as they got along. And that's one thing that I kind of like about National Board. They're always reflective, seeing what works, what doesn't work, what we need to tweak, that sort of thing.
00:06:04
Speaker
But so I started when you had to, you could actually do a component. Because if I had to do the whole thing, you know, all together, I don't think I would have gone through the process. So it was like, hmm, let me find out what this is all about, kind of figure it out. And it was our teachers union who, you know, kind of said, okay, we're gonna offer a grant.
00:06:32
Speaker
you can try this out and that sort of thing. And so once I did a component and found out, this is really good. This is when I came out at the other end, how I felt about my teaching, how I became a little bit, well, not more than a little bit, I would say quite more reflective about what I was doing a little bit more deliberate as well. It really helped me.
00:07:02
Speaker
And it's just that, also that sense of camaraderie that you have as you're going, you know, through the process, working with other people. And that's why I mentor now as well. My cat's commenting on the background, sorry. So, yeah.
00:07:28
Speaker
So, yeah, you know, it's, it really is a, it's a, it's a very, it's a rigorous process, but it's a transformational process as well. No, it's awesome that you mentor, you know, that something that we hear often is, go through and have a mentor to help you through this process. What do you think was the most difficult part of going through it?
00:07:52
Speaker
Um, I, you have to be very disciplined about your timelines. Um, and I think it's also reading through everything because it is very much, um, dot your eyes, cross your T's kind of, sometimes it's, it's more like, instead of dot your eyes, it's more like cross your eyes, but, um, you know, it.
00:08:15
Speaker
You have to really read through everything very carefully and there's there is a certain language that you use through the process and I guess, you know, being an English as a new language teacher and having kind of that linguistic language kind of background.
00:08:35
Speaker
Every profession, everything has its own way of talking and communicating. And so you really kind of need to get into the groove of all that as well. But you have to make sure that you are very detail oriented as to what they are asking you to do.
00:09:00
Speaker
So you recently wrote a piece for us that highlight in a few tips to help teachers go through the process. And I'll enjoy the title, NBCT as in teacher, not traveler. Or as in traveler, not tourist. Sorry about that. Be an NBCT to a T as in traveler, not tourist. We'll link to it in the show notes. You know, is there any tips that you think hold a space to have a greater level of importance to help through this?
00:09:28
Speaker
Well, the whole way the piece kind of came about is, as I said, I mentor other teachers. I have mentored teachers here in Indiana and also what we've done now with NBCT through the network of accomplished minoritized educators or name. We are able to also connect and mentor teachers in other states as well.
00:09:58
Speaker
And so I was having a zoom meeting with one of my teachers who's actually in Maryland. And I said, Okay, you can only put so much you have a certain page length thing. So I said, Think about it as
00:10:19
Speaker
you're going on a trip and you only have one suitcase. What can you fit in that suitcase? What is important to pack? What do you have to put in there? And so that was kind of where the whole analogy of you're a traveler, you're going on a journey. How are you well prepared for that trip?
00:10:42
Speaker
Oh, no, no, that's exactly what we like to call it. We have our email journey, everything we call it is like becoming a National Board Certified Teacher is more about the journey than the outcome. And something like to say, I mean, getting the title is nice, but it's all about the growth and reflection while you're going through the process. And I think also the other thing is that
00:11:05
Speaker
I know that, and I'm glad this happens, that in some school districts or states, people are compensated, they get a bump in their salary and that's great, but that should not be the reason why you're pursuing this. And that's why I said, don't be a tourist, be a traveler, because the change really should be transformational. It should change you inside.
00:11:32
Speaker
It's not about the paycheck because if you're not really getting that analytical reflective piece, then you're not getting the whole substance. It's like
Third-Grade Memories and Child Development
00:11:44
Speaker
when somebody goes somewhere and they're taking pictures, taking pictures, and then they come back and they're like, look, look at my pictures. But they really can't tell you anything about where they were, what the culture was like, what the food, what they learned about the history, the geography, that sort of thing.
00:12:03
Speaker
Yeah, you know, it's something that's kind of a not an issue. I don't know what this kind of call it, but like where everybody has a camera on them now. So are you really living in the moment? Exactly. Or are you just focused on getting a good video or good picture? So it's a little difficult to think about nowadays sometimes. Yeah.
00:12:23
Speaker
So one thing we like to do here is get to know our teachers outside of the classroom because you guys are people too. We all love you over here. And so I have three questions that I ask at the end of the show. They're usually pretty different for everybody to get to know you on some outside of school or just as a person. So the first question I have is kind of school related, but it's from your younger self. So what was your best class while you were in school?
00:12:49
Speaker
I had an awesome third grade teacher just really we actually took a field trip to her house because she had so many different kinds of animals in her house um you know I actually I grew up in Peru.
00:13:09
Speaker
Oh, man. Yeah. Yeah. So she had monkeys and parrots. And yeah, and she was just a really cool lady, like something would come up. And we had like, even in our classroom, we had like a bunch of aquariums and things like that.
00:13:31
Speaker
And there's something really cool about third grade too. I think that's really when kids discover the world, like the outside world around them. Honestly, I feel like that's true because my third grade teacher
00:13:44
Speaker
is the one that kind of opened my world for me, like where my worldview and what I wanted to do with my life. I'll never forget her, Mrs. Holmes, third grade, Washington, elementary school, Springfield, Massachusetts. Shout out to her, I don't know, she's probably not teaching anymore, but somebody I'll never forget. And I think you're right, third grade is kind of like that period where it's like, all right, there's a big world out here. Yeah.
Travel Stories and Cultural Experiences
00:14:06
Speaker
Not not to not to throw shade on the other grades or the other ages. Yeah, no, I mean, yeah, don't don't ask me to choose which what age I prefer to teach. They all have their their blesses. So you've been teaching ages from three to 83. So I mean, that's hard to pick a favorite. Yeah, it is. My grandmother used to say every fruit has its season. And that is so true. Yeah. All right. So your piece, obviously about traveling, the kind of
00:14:36
Speaker
So where is your favorite vacation spot? Oh, there you go again. I can't choose a place. Give us like three of your favorite vacations spot. Okay, so like in the US? No, anywhere, all across the world.
00:14:54
Speaker
OK, well, in the US, the states that I really thought were just beautiful were Oregon. Go to Crater Lake, anybody. I would say that that's a place where I went there and I actually gasped. I actually went like that when I saw it because I just could not believe it is actually so, so, so gorgeous.
00:15:20
Speaker
Oh gosh, that this is so hard. And not to be cliche. I love Paris, love, love Paris. I think there's just so much to do there. And then
00:15:36
Speaker
Before COVID, I went to Mongolia. Yeah. Yeah. So that was, that was very interesting. Loved it. Learned, learned so much. Yeah. Sounds like a lot of fun. All right. Yeah. I mean, I could add more places. I really could. So I'm sure you could. So last question. What is your go-to karaoke anthem?
00:16:05
Speaker
Oh, no, no, no. There's a reason why I'm not the music teacher. And if the same thing happens when my kids, when I have to illustrate something, you know, like I'm showing them, I said, this is the reason why I'm not the art teacher. And I am so, so glad for Google Images as well.
00:16:28
Speaker
Oh, but I have to say one thing, karaoke is huge in Mongolia. Huge. Huge. Yes, karaoke. Two things that surprise me, karaoke is huge and people can sing really well. So I think it's, and I think in some cultures, you know, when you really, people sing a lot together, you know, that definitely helps a lot. And basketball.
00:16:57
Speaker
It really, that was kind of my surprise. I didn't realize basketball was so big there. And it was like, yeah, it was fun to have. Yeah. And it was really cute because I was watching this kid play basketball in Roland Bator. And he came up to me and he said to me in English, hi, where are you from? And I said, hi, I'm from the United States. I'm from, I live in Indianapolis. And he goes, I'm from Mongolia.
00:17:25
Speaker
So he just wanted to practice his English. It was so cute. I just loved it.
00:17:29
Speaker
That's awesome. Fun fact, basketball was created in my hometown of Springfield, Massachusetts. Ah, see? That's what I love talking to people. They're always cool connections. Right. Little connections. Shout out to your hometown. Well, thank you for taking the time. This was so much fun. I look forward. Hopefully we can do this again sometime. It was amazing to chat. Yeah. And everybody, stay healthy. Stay healthy. Yes, please. Stay healthy. Stay happy. And we'll ride this out together.
00:17:59
Speaker
That was a lot of fun. Lots of helpful tips from Carol there. It was great to catch up with her. I just want to thank her again for taking the time to chat with me. And thank you for taking the time to listen to National Board Conversations. Be sure to follow us on social media. We keep up with everything National Board-related. And we'll see you next time.