So, let's free ourselves of the crippling pressure of centering ourselves in every narrative. It's often not about us at all. And I find that quite liberating and critical to seeing the work clearly.
We Are Not Pizza
Reframing Fear
This is our legacy as educators. To care so deeply about the future of this world that we are willing at times to bruise our own egos in pursuit of a collective better for our kids and this world.
But First: Support
And sometimes support looks like making copies of the reading for people and subbing in classrooms. I believe so deeply in this work that I am willing to do whatever it takes to remove barriers. I subbed in a classroom last week, and I think I'm a better leader because of it. The further we are from the classroom and the day-to-day of our schools, the less clear we become about the support that is really needed. This is also why teacher and student voices are critical in the continuous improvement process. To my administrator friends, put on your sneakers, get out of your office, roll up your sleeves, and help out.
Let’s Be Fireflies
This work is hard. This work is important. This work is made better when we leverage the strengths of teammates and work together to design learning experiences.
Go First
As I mention in my upcoming book, Legacy of Learning, our schools don't need more shiny perfect people. We need more deeply human people. Modeling care, reflection, sincere apologies, and learning, and changed behavior. We need people who see, celebrate, and utilize the strengths of others. People who truly believe we are better together.
Cutting Goals in Half
Life is hard enough. The pressures of work or being a parent are hard enough. We don't need to make it harder on ourselves by setting unrealistic expectations. Thinking and moving smaller can help us achieve more in the end. It can help us feel better too. You know?
Why We Write
But in learning and considering the new, let's not forget that learning is a deeply human experience. Meaningful learning is designed to be human-centered. It's not new for the sake of new. It's about making the most meaningful, positive impact we can with each learner. In this pursuit, let's not forget to see, enjoy, and be with the people we spend time with every day. If we lose sight of that, we have nothing and none of this other stuff matters. If I had not make space to write today, I'm not sure I would be grounded in that reminder. This is why I write.
Get Your Pink Back
Perhaps our schools need a little less hustle in certain areas, so we can give a little more heart. Perhaps school would feel more alive with learning if we felt a little more alive in our work. Perhaps we could see more of the beauty in others if we didn't sacrifice the beauty within ourselves. So, during this time of summer savor, maybe next school year is less about what you can do better and more about how to enjoy more. Maybe.
Hope, ChatGPT, & Us
Tomorrow can be better than today, and collectively, we have the skills needed to make tomorrow better than today. Keep showing up. Together.
Educators, I see you.
What we look for, we find. It's easy to overcomplicate things in education, but some of the most important moves we make...as I mention in my upcoming book...are quite simple and impactful. The key is quieting the noise, so we can stay close to what matters most. How we feel in the work impact how others feel in the work and all of this impacts how the work actually goes.
MEGHAN LAWSON 