Our children are raised by many teachers. Those with formal credentials and without. The best teacher’s I have observed are knowledgable, patient, and skilled in guiding willing students. Willing is important here, especially without the formal confines of a traditional education environment.
A teacher’s influence can be in many settings and need not have the formal title to play the role. Afterschool teachers, tutors, and mentors are in this lane. They take the time to nurture others both intellectually and emotionally. Their work is vital. When done well, this role isn’t taken lightly and complements in school time in a way a team works together towards a goal.
My former teacher coach said it best though, watching a great in-school teacher is like having floor seats to seeing Michael Jordan in his prime in the NBA Finals. Absolutely unstoppable in inspiring anyone who worked with him. He was prepared, practiced, talented, and created a symphony on the court. He’d not only win, but often looked effortless while doing it.
Teaching today is not an effortless career track though. Our formal teachers endure apprenticeships, teacher training, teacher certifications, licensing, background checks, continuing education, parent meetings, parent vetting, principal vetting, in some cases school-founder vetting, and board vetting. On the extreme side, [but also quite normal in the profession] this means 12-hour days, finding their own material for lessons, school turnover, school closure, in many instances uninspiring salaries, unsupportive school cultures (yes, I said it), and excessive pressures to raise test scores.
With all this said, every teacher I’ve met also tells the stories of how students have profoundly impacted them. They’ve grown through the struggle, the wins, and the relationship they’ve made with their students. They often say they wouldn’t trade what they do for anything. Often referring to teaching as more than a job, it is their “calling”. Upon becoming a teacher myself, I felt the same and still do wrapped in creating valuable edtech, mentoring, and supporting behavioral health teachers and counselors.
Teaching is so much more than I can capture here, but I hope you read through this thinking fondly of your teachers who were all the things here, endured the most, and still managed to help make you the person you are today.
While I have you, a great teacher I had the pleasure of working with wrote the below article on equity in teaching and representation in the classroom. Check out the link below and let me know what you think.
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#education #thankyou #todayinequity #teacherappreciation
https://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2017/05/04/black-teachers-matter-school-integration-doesnt.html