Janelle Field

“Growing up in an environment deeply rooted in the value of education, where educators surrounded me and instilled the belief that education is a precious gift, laid the foundation for my journey.”

Q: Name | Location | Years in Education

Janelle Field | Belgrade MN | I will be starting year 31 this coming year. (wow, where did those years go)!!!

Q: Tell us the story of your journey to becoming an educator. What are the significant waypoints along that path?

Growing up in an environment deeply rooted in the value of education, where educators surrounded me and instilled the belief that education is a precious gift, laid the foundation for my journey. My family emphasized the importance of seizing every opportunity to learn and grow, whether it be through the arts, athletics, my own passions or interests, or academics. This holistic approach to education, coupled with the unique perspective offered by attending a very rural elementary and high school, instilled in me a deep appreciation for the diverse ways in which students can learn and thrive.

My path to becoming an educator was not just a choice but a calling that felt predetermined by the passion for education my environment nurtured within me. The decision to attend a private college further cemented my dedication to pursuing a career in education, allowing me to explore the theory and practice of teaching in a nurturing and focused setting.

My teaching journey began in the 5th-grade classroom, a pivotal experience that taught me the importance of patience, creativity, and adaptability. Teaching such a dynamic and inquisitive age group, I learned to foster a love of learning in my students, encouraging them to pursue their interests and questions with zeal. The transition to teaching 1st grade deepened my understanding of the foundational skills and attitudes toward learning that students develop at an early age, highlighting the critical role of early education in shaping lifelong learners.

The evolution of my career took a significant turn when I became a tech integrationist for PK-12. This role allowed me to blend my passion for education with the transformative power of technology, enhancing the learning experience for students and teachers alike. It was here that I recognized the importance of integrating innovative tools and approaches to education, ensuring that students are prepared to navigate an increasingly digital world.

As a teaching and learning engagement coach for PK-12, I had the opportunity to support and mentor educators, sharing insights and strategies to enhance their teaching practices. This role underscored the importance of continuous learning and collaboration among educators, fostering a community of professionals dedicated to improving student outcomes.

Now, as a lead coach for the New Teacher Center, I draw upon my rich tapestry of experiences to mentor and guide new educators. This role represents a culmination of my journey, allowing me to give back to the profession by ensuring the next generation of teachers is equipped with the tools, knowledge, and passion to inspire their students.

“Each of these waypoints has been significant not just in terms of the roles I’ve held but in the lessons learned, the challenges overcome, and the joy of witnessing the impact of quality education on students’ lives. My journey to becoming an educator has been a journey of constant learning, growth, and a reaffirmation of the belief that education truly is the most powerful gift one can receive and give.”

Q: Who inspired you (friend, family, coach, mentor, guide, sponsor, advisor) to become an educator, and/or get involved in education?

Throughout my journey to becoming an educator, I've been fortunate to draw inspiration from several remarkable individuals whose dedication, passion, and teaching philosophy have deeply influenced me. Among them, a family friend stands out as a cornerstone of my inspiration. Starting her career in a quaint country school, this exceptional teacher dedicated 43 years to education, transitioning to teaching in a metropolitan school where she continued to impact the lives of countless students. Her unwavering commitment, adaptability, and passion for teaching across different environments showcased the profound difference educators can make. This person not only exemplified the resilience and dedication required in this profession but also demonstrated the lasting impact a teacher can have on their community.

Additionally, my athletic coaches imbued me with a sense of discipline, teamwork, and the importance of nurturing individual talents within a collective setting. Their approach to coaching paralleled many aspects of educational philosophy, teaching me the value of motivation, encouragement, and personalized guidance.

Another significant source of inspiration was a teacher I had the opportunity to volunteer with during my high school years. This experience allowed me a firsthand look at the intricacies of a caring and connected community, the importance of creating an engaging learning environment, and the art of making every student feel valued and understood. It was during this time that I truly understood the role of an educator as not just a disseminator of knowledge but as a guide, mentor, and pivotal figure in shaping students' futures.

These experiences, collectively, have not only inspired me to pursue a career in education but have also shaped my teaching values. I strive to embody the resilience, passion, and dedication of my family friend, the motivational spirit of my coaches, and the empathetic, student-centered approach of the teacher I volunteered with. Together, they have taught me that being an educator is about more than just teaching; it's about inspiring, guiding, and preparing students for the world beyond the classroom….Leaving to Learn.

Q: When (and where) do you feel you are most likely to succeed as you practice your educational art, and your educational craft?

As a Change Agent, dedicated to re-imagining education, I find myself most aligned with success in environments that are both challenging and ripe for change. This is often in spaces where the traditional boundaries of education are pushed, and where there is a collective openness to innovative practices. Specifically, I thrive in collaborative settings that foster interdisciplinary learning and where the community—whether it's a school, a district, or an educational organization—embraces a culture of experimentation and continuous improvement, especially in my rural MN settings.

One particular setting where I feel my educational art and craft come alive is within community-based learning environments. Here, I can facilitate immersive learning experiences that not only engage students intellectually but also emotionally and socially, encouraging them to connect with real-world issues and solutions that are impacting our rural communities and that find a purpose around them. This approach allows me to blend my educational art—creating meaningful, engaging, and inspiring learning experiences—with my craft, which involves meticulously designing and implementing pedagogical strategies that cater to diverse learners.

Moreover, I am most effective in environments that value and support professional learning communities. Where soul is at the heart of leadership and where love, care, and vulnerability are infused. In these spaces, I engage with fellow educators to share insights, challenge each other's thinking, and collectively refine our practices. This collaborative growth environment is critical for not only advancing my own skills but also for fostering a culture of excellence and innovation within the educational landscape. This is where my coaching around SEL and Optimal Learning Environments come into play with my New Teacher Center work.

Lastly, the digital realm offers a unique platform for extending the boundaries of traditional classrooms, allowing for global collaboration, access to a vast array of resources, and the integration of cutting-edge technologies. As such, I find significant success in leveraging online platforms and digital tools to enhance learning experiences, making education more accessible and engaging for all students. I am networked with so many transformational professional communities that continue to drive the work I do and see that it actually can happen.

In essence, my success in practicing educational art and craft is most palpable in environments that champion innovation, collaboration, and a deep commitment to evolving educational paradigms. It is in these settings that I can best contribute to and witness the transformative impact of re-imagined educational practices.

Q: What are the skills you feel most confident using in your life, and work in education?

I am thinking of this answer through the lens of a rural educator and the place I live:

“Adaptability, cultural competency, digital literacy, leadership, empathy, and collaborative problem-solving—are the pillars of my confidence as an educator and a person. They not only empower me to make a positive impact in the classroom but also drive my ongoing efforts to contribute to the evolution of educational practices and community involvement, particularly in rural settings.”

Q: What are the most significant challenges you are working to overcome as you define what school could be?

The biggest challenge that I am working on right now is to bring Hope and Joy back to the learning communities I am working with. In addition, trying to help leaders guide the work of challenging the status quo of the 1954 ways of teaching that is leading to so much compliant engagement. Looking to push more into the Meaningful and Relevant learning that we need for both the adults and learners in our districts. In addition, our state has so many compliant initiatives along with the state testing that is being placed on a pedestal, that I am trying to help schools move beyond the narrow academic achievement measures and embrace the view of student success along with leveraging AI to support the well-being and competency development for our learners. Find the purpose and feelings for the adults and learners and to go past just being box checkers!

Q: Describe some of the most rewarding moments in your time in education; those crazy days when you knew you were having an impact...and it felt really good.

I am going to focus on the most rewarding moment of my career:

Brave Forward Thinking Educators Who See What Education Can Be...Let’s Build It

The time when a group of educators came to me and said, “Janelle, something needs to change with the learning experiences for our learners and how can you help?” I was able to work with the local school board and admin to put together a design team that started looking at Designing Learning Experiences differently for our rural learners. The team also had the opportunity to collaborate with Nathan Strenge from Fielding International, Transcend Education and we also had the opportunity to work with What School Could Be to make this happen. The promise and possibility were so exciting to see as we all co-created to think bigger to focus on change for learner-centered learning. The work proved to be very challenging, but the consensus was that in order to build the world of tomorrow, we must create a system of education that equips children to build and live in the future. We went to work and created a school-within-a-school (micro-school) that promoted learners wanting to be there and have a love for what learning experiences we are co-creating with them.

Q: What do you most want to learn from this global online community of your fellow educator-leaders?

I continue to want to learn and build my network around passionate educators and excited learners (I have so enjoyed the events where the students’ voices are at the center). In addition, I want to continue as a Change Agent to make more connections with both students and adults who are doing this amazing evolving work (as John Gould would say - evolving) where learners are leaving to learn, finding the learning relevant, meaningful and authentic, feeling the learning and also continue to learn how AI work needs to be brought into our learning communities and not just blocked to show the power of AI tech that is in the pipeline.

Q: What is something quirky that you love about yourself and would help other community members to get to know you?

I walk at a very rapid pace…

I eat the same breakfast every day…

Q: Ben Franklin supposedly said, "Early to bed, early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise." You might think Ben was full of baloney, but we are wondering when YOU are most awake, alive, productive, creative, and/or reflective. Early morning, late at night, some other time?

BOOM….Early Morning is my jam…4:30 AM with a run and a workout to follow along with listening to my WSCB Podcasts that make my long runs go by so quickly!

Q: Cold night, snow out, warm fire, hot beverage, or hot day, white sand beach, shorts and slippers, cold beverage?

Well… the only answer from a true hardy Minnesotan is a cold night, warm fire, and a hot beverage. 

Q: The coolest thing that happened to me today (the day I am filling out this form) was…

I received a message from a teacher that I just had an In-Field coaching session thanking me for how I have helped her unravel strategic knots and have helped her use coaching as her common thread to grow the teachers she works with. She thanked me for keeping our work human-centered.

Q: And finally, what do you think is the purpose of education? (Clearly not a small question, but we hope you enjoy responding!)

I do have to start with this quote from Alice Keeler…”If the purpose of school is to find answers to math problems and be able to write a letter to your Congressmen…then yes, AI has made school obsolete.”

The purpose to me…is not created by me. It needs to be defined by each individual. We need to ask each of them, what is your purpose, what does success mean to you or what problems do you want to solve in your communities or world and build on the foundation of relationships. It is bringing out their strengths; not deficits that we can help leverage to show them that right now they can make an impact on something that is purposeful to them. Letting them know whatever age they are…they are solutionaries! The learners and the adults are the curriculum and our community and the world is the learning ecosystem.