Finding My Voice: Leading, Learning, and Growing Through My ePortfolio
- Thomas Robinson
- Jul 18
- 4 min read
Honestly, when I first started building my ePortfolio at http://www.thomasrobinson3.com, I didn’t have a clear plan for what it would become. I just knew I needed a space to organize my thoughts, highlight my work, and track my growth as both an educator and a leader. But as I got into the process, I realized that what really mattered was finding and sharing my own voice. Not just writing for the sake of it but really telling my story and letting my personality come through. Every blog post, reflection, and artifact I added was like another step toward rediscovering that voice. Back when I was at MISD, I often felt like my ideas and willingness to try new things weren’t always welcomed. Even though I did my best to stay growth-minded, it could feel isolating. Joining Hillcrest School was a breath of fresh air. Suddenly, I was working alongside people who wanted to keep learning and embrace change. My ePortfolio became the place where I could capture that shift: a home for my reflections, a way to express what drives me as a leader and educator, and a real, living record of my journey. When I started writing for my portfolio, I wanted it to feel like a real conversation, something honest, personal, and down to earth. That’s how I try to lead, too: not by standing in front, but by walking alongside others. Whether I’m mentoring a colleague, testing out a new tech tool in class, or nudging someone to try a different approach, I try to do it with empathy and encouragement. Servant leadership has always felt natural to me, and Keiser University (2023) really gets at what that means, listening first, lifting people up, and making sure trust is at the heart of it all. That’s the kind of voice I wanted to share in my ePortfolio: one that doesn’t just tick off achievements, but tells a story about growing, collaborating, and leading with authenticity. I keep coming back to the idea of feedforward because it’s honestly changed how I think about leadership and communication. Instead of zeroing in on what went wrong, feedforward is all about looking ahead and focusing on what’s possible. I tried to shape my ePortfolio around showing not just what I’ve accomplished, but where I’m hoping to go next. Harapnuik (2017) describes learning as something meaningful, reflective, and centered on the learner, and I finally found a way to live that out here. Every post turned into an opportunity to pause, reflect, and figure out how I could keep growing instead of just documenting what already happened. Something else that’s come up while writing is just how important it is to be vulnerable to admit when I don’t have it all figured out. I used to think I had to be perfect all the time, but life as a teacher (and as a leader) has humbled me quickly. Now, I try to be honest about what I’m still learning, and to treat feedback, even the kind that stings as a chance to move forward. That “feedforward” mindset has really changed my whole approach to leadership and communication. Instead of focusing on mistakes, I try to look ahead and ask, “Where can we go from here?” It’s a lot more energizing, and it keeps me growing. Solomon (2024) in Edutopia really hit home for me when they said that teachers who model growth-minded thinking don’t just improve themselves, they show everyone around them what lifelong learning looks like. That’s the kind of leader I want to be someone who’s still curious, still asking questions, still ready to try something new. Honestly, building my ePortfolio has also let me double down on being a digital leader. I love technology—not because it’s flashy, but because it gives students a voice, helps me reach different types of learners, and lets us get creative together. Whether it’s trying Flipgrid in class, putting together interactive timelines for history lessons, or running workshops for my colleagues, I get a real kick out of helping others get comfortable (and even excited) with tech. The ePortfolio has become my space to keep track of all these moments, and hopefully it’s useful for anyone out there looking for ideas or a spark. Sheninger (2019) puts it well: being a digital leader isn’t just about tech, it’s about modeling innovation, making learning real, and building a space where people feel safe to experiment even if it gets messy. But the more I reflect, the more I realize it’s not just about my own voice. One of the best parts of being at Hillcrest is working with people who are genuinely hungry to grow. My job as a leader here isn’t about giving orders, it's about walking with people, sharing what’s worked for me, and listening to what’s on their minds, too. When I post a blog or share resources from my site, I’m really saying, “Here’s what I’ve tried, what are you thinking? How can we build on this together?” That’s where real growth happens in the back-and-forth, in an honest conversation, the willingness to figure things out together. Looking ahead, I see my ePortfolio as something alive, a way to keep capturing who I’m becoming, not just what I’ve done. I want to keep adding reflections, resources, and maybe even more videos or stories from my classroom and from my students! So it becomes a tool for coaching and collaborating, not just self-reflection. If it helps even one colleague or student to find the courage to try something new, or build their own digital home, that’s a win. In the end, this portfolio has helped me get back in touch with my voice, the kind that leads by serving, keeps reaching for growth, and always chooses curiosity over criticism. I’ve learned that digital spaces aren’t just for showing off what you’ve done, they're for telling our stories, connecting with others, and making room for leadership to grow, one honest reflection at a time.
References
Keiser, R. (2023, October 30). Leadership styles in education: Nine ways educators guide
talent. Keiser University.
de-talent/
Harapnuik, D. (2017, October 23). CSLE+COVA. Dwayne Harapnuik.
Sheninger, E. (2019). Digital leadership: Changing paradigms for changing times (2nd ed.).
Corwin Press.
Solomon, C. (2024, December 23). How to build growth mindsets in the classroom through
reflection. Edutopia.
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