The document outlines a 4-step action research plan to help determine the next steps in the author's professional career as a middle school science teacher. The plan includes clarifying a vision, articulating a theory of what they want, implementing actions to collect relevant data on crime rates, housing prices, school achievement and distance from home, and finally reflecting on the data to plan informed next steps toward their goal of returning to the classroom.

1. Oh, T he Places I
Could Go…
Action Research to Determine My
Professional Next Steps

2. Step 1: Clarify Vision
and Targets
In the next year, I would like to get back in the
classroom as a middle school science
teacher.

3. Step 1: Clarify Vision
and Targets
 Do I want to move to • Do I want to
Lexington and work relocate where I
in FCPS? can work at a
KIPP Charter
School?

4. Step 2: Articulate A
Theory
 Wherever I move, I want:
- A home
- A city with low poverty/crime rates
- A supportive school culture
- A school that is focused on student
achievement
- A location relatively close to Eastern KY.

5. Step 3: Implement
Action and Collect
 Therefore, Data
- I need to know the crime rates of Lexington
and possible KIPP Cities
I will find city poverty and crime statistics and
place those in a table.

6. Step 3: Implement
Action and Collect
 Therefore, Data
- I need to know the median housing prices
of Lexington and potential KIPP cities.
- I will research home values in Lexington
and possible KIPP cities to the average
home value, etc.

7. Step 3: Implement
Action and Collect
 Therefore, Data
- I need to know the focus on student achievement from
the quantative sense and also student populations
(preferably high % of ELL/Low SES Students).
- I will collect school achievement data for Lexington
Middle Schools and KIPP schools to see schools’
results.

8. Step 3: Implement
Action and Collect
Data
 Therefore,
- I need to know the distance from Lexington and
KIPP cities to Eastern Kentucky.
- I will research distance of Lexington schools’ vs.
KIPP schools’ distance from Eastern Kentucky.

9. Step 3: Implement
Action and Collect
 Therefore, Data
- I need to know about potential openings and the culture
at Lexington Middle Schools and KIPP Schools.
- I will start reaching out to principals at KIPP schools and
Lexington Middle Schools to chat about potential
openings and to qualitatively observe the culture at the
school.

10. Step 4: Reflect on the
Data and Plan Informed
Action
 Based upon the data, I will choose a city
that has a low crime rate, a school that is
focused on student achievement, and
relatively close to Eastern KY.
 Oh, the places I’ll go!