
This term has been growing over the past few years, so you may have heard of it. If you don't already know, a "teacherpreneur" is an educator who uses their talent and business acumen to share their work and philosophy with others.
This can be simple: being an educational blogger, consulting, speaking at conferences, writing books, or even creating a website.
What is a teacherpreneur?
Teaching is a beautiful and meaningful profession, but it's only for some to be inside a classroom. It's okay to waste your teaching skills and educational experience if you no longer have a passion for teaching. Many former teachers who want to stay in the field of education find successful careers on their own.
3 Benefits of Being a Teacherpreneur
There are three benefits to being a teacherpreneur, including the following:
Increasing Your Influence.
As a teacher, one thing often disliked is the limitations of a single classroom. No matter how good you are as an educator, you are limited by the number of students in your classroom. By seizing opportunities outside your classroom or sharing great ideas and best practices that work, you can demonstrate to other educators the power of ideas, methods, strategies, and authenticity. Once you share those ideas, they become exponentially stronger, as does your influence on education. Teachers can become great entrepreneurs.
Making You a Better Teacher.
This sounds counterintuitive, but you become a better reflective teacher by sharing outstanding work. As you continue to share, you will train and hone your skills and even how you convey ideas to people. All of this will make you think more about what you do in the classroom and be more effective. You will also get more opportunities to network and connect with other educators through conference presentations, comments on your blog, or perhaps just Facebook groups you join. Connecting with other educators who share your interests will give you some perspective and help improve teaching.
You Don't Have to Quit Teaching.
Fortunately, plenty of opportunities to become a teacherpreneur don't require you to leave the classroom. Many of these can help build your expertise and reflect on your instruction and will be fully supported by your school or district.
Education could be better, and many aspects of instruction and the current system need improvement. If we don't stand up and use our skills as teachers to make these changes, many things will remain the same, and students will continue to struggle.
CONCLUSION
Teachers are already organized, professional, and educated. They are uniquely equipped with tools entrepreneurs use to spread the word about their work and grow unique ideas. Why don't we, as teachers, do the same for our education market? It has, and always will. Actual change in education must come from the classroom, not vice versa.