"If I had had teachers of color as a student . . . I would have been more unequivocal in explaining why "All Lives Matter" is a perfunctory, misguided rebuttal to "Black Lives Matter."
That is why I am in love with teaching. Working with young people means that I get to witness these small acts of brilliant humanity all the time. I get to continually be inspired and challenged and amazed. I get to watch as students transform themselves into people who will change the world.
Every teacher gets a moment when they face one kid or a hundred kids just like Damion. It's in these moments your core beliefs are challenged and revealed.
Carissa told me that she had not been completely honest about why she was calling me. She did not have a paper to write and did not need to ask me any questions. Instead, she wanted to see my honest reaction as she read a letter aloud that she had written to me.
Equity in education today is more than just the availability of an education; it's recognizing the fact that some students require more support than others to reach their academic potential.
We live in interesting times. As our global society struggles to navigate problems brought about by fear and misunderstanding of those who are different, we have unprecedented access to tools that make connecting and learning with others easier than ever before.
It is so important for schools who want to retain talent to think critically about the needs of their novice teachers - they must think beyond new teacher training at the beginning of the year. As we approach the first extended break, why not initiate a check-in with new teachers that can provide exactly what they need (but likely won't ask for)?
When writing about your experience, it's OK to be vulnerable. In fact, being honest about what your day feels like, what you see and feel in your work, will often make a piece more interesting, more relatable, and ultimately more powerful.
The true beauty in leadership is being able to discern when to pull back and not give teachers things they don't need. There is a balance that great principals learn, and because of that balance, they generally have happy teachers in their classrooms.
I wish school leaders could cede some of this space and work to their teachers who know better than anyone else how learning happens and how to make that new knowledge stick
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