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Rachel Baxter – Instructional Technology Coach
What is your position at Marshall, and what do you enjoy most about it? Learning I am Marshall's Instructional Technology Coach or SBTS (School-Based Technology Specialist) and I truly believe I have the best job in FCPS! I get to work with such amazing educators at GCM, and my role involves planning and implementing our school's professional learning program and supporting teachers in developing learning activities that are engaging and impactful! I am also the sponsor of two student-run clubs and one of our co-equity leads, which means I get to work with our student equity team! I love the connections I get to build with students, the fun I have with colleagues, and getting to be a leader in such an incredible school.
If you weren't in education, what would you be doing instead? I love to travel, and actually work as a travel advisor on the side. So, I think if I weren't in education (as scary as that sounds), I would lean more into helping folks plan their dream vacations! Some of my favorite recent destinations have been: the French Riviera, Argentina, Greece, Amsterdam, and New Orleans.
If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go? The top of my list for future travels is Vietnam! I've been dying to visit ever since a friend of mine moved there, and her photos are amazing. I'd also love to do a trip to Japan and Korea, but saving up enough airline miles for a flight around the world takes time! would be working in the counseling space.
If you could swap places with a student for a day, what class or activity would you pick? I'd absolutely love to have another day in HS choir or theatre! I was in two different show choirs when I attended West Springfield HS, and I also loved performing in the musicals. Getting to go see students perform here at Marshall is always so wonderful and reminds me of how meaningful my own time in performing arts was!
If you could give one piece of advice to Marshall's parents, what would it be? The path to success doesn't look the same for all students! Growing up and attending FCPS schools from Kindergarten to Senior graduation, I always felt like there was such pressure to have a very specific path after high school, and when I did graduate, that path did not work well for me. I started college at the University of Central Florida, majoring in Musical Theatre, and at 18, I wasn't ready yet. I wound up dropping out, moving back home, and taking some classes at NOVA while I worked full-time at The Cheesecake Factory. Having that time really helped me reflect on what I wanted out of a career, and I decided at 22 to go back to school for Social Studies education. By that time, I was ready and knew what I wanted and was able to graduate summa cum laude! Taking the time I needed led me to a career I absolutely love, and I'm very thankful that my journey wound my way to where I am now!
High school students may not all take the same route once they graduate, but with time and persistence, even the students with wandering paths can find where they're meant to be 💖
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