I left my home to collect experiences, learn and grow.
My name is Carlos, although some know me as Mr. Garcia or Mr. Carlos. In 2014, I decided to leave Spain and embark on an adventure that has brought me to where I am today, becoming the PYP teacher I am now. Every experience, country, trip, colleague, student, and lesson has been key in shaping who I am. This was the path I chose, and while it has been challenging at times, it was worth every second of adventure away from home. Those who know me well understand how valuable personal experiences are to me. For me, this life of moving from country to country means collecting memories, learning, and growing. And that is what this post is about: growing, both personally and professionally.
I realized I wanted to be more than a teacher—I aim to be a PYP Coordinator.
I find myself at a point where, over the last few years, I have grown professionally in ways I didn’t expect. Looking back, I feel very proud of the teacher I’ve become, and I want to continue progressing. This growth wasn’t planned, so now I’ve decided to take my career in a new direction. A few months ago, I reflected on where I wanted to go and what professional goals I wanted to set. I knew I loved teaching, I loved helping my colleagues, and I enjoyed organizing projects, so it was clear to me: I want to become a PYP Coordinator.
Setting a 3-year plan to achieve my professional goals.
To achieve this, I began working on a three-year professional plan to be ready when the time comes to take on that role. This plan consists of three paths or subgoals that I must achieve:
- Making my work known: I realized, after listening to an episode of Mattia Pantaloni’s podcast on professional development, the power of exposing our work. So, I decided to create a blog and an Instagram account to share what I’ve learned over these years about PYP, PYPX, creating agency in the classroom, transdisciplinary units, the connection between math and physical education, Singapore Math, Science of Reading, communication skills, social-emotional support for students, classroom management strategies, hands-on activities, flexible seating, and assessments. I will also talk about professional development for teachers, especially those in Spain who feel stuck in the path of competitive exams, and about education in the IB system. I’m excited to share everything I have in mind. The blog (Space PYP Teacher: Mission to Inspire and Discover – LINK) will feature posts twice a month, and I’ll also share summaries on LinkedIn and Instagram (@spacepypteacher – LINK). My goal is not to become famous or monetize, but to document my work, organize and structure my ideas, which will help me generate new ideas and clarify others.
- Continuous professional development: I’ve identified key areas where I need to improve, such as inclusivity, social-emotional education, AI, organization, IB, and leadership. Through IB courses, books, podcasts, articles, and influential people in education, I will continue learning over these three years. I’ll also address more specific areas like math teaching methods or literacy.
- Gaining experience as an Instructional Coach: I’ve already applied to be a Workshop Leader in IB, and I was lucky to give my first session teaching other teachers how to use Toddle.
I’m confident that I will achieve my goal. Although I was never the best student, nor the one who worked the most hours, I’ve always been consistent and organized, qualities that have allowed me to achieve my objectives.
Lastly, I want to thank the colleagues and mentors from whom I have learned so much, and whom I have the pleasure of calling friends: Emer, Bea, Brian, Besnik, Amanda, Christy, Laurie, Korab, Melena, and Nuhi.