The applause of four hundred and fifty fills the room.
Bodies rise from their seats as Melinda Gates takes the stage.
She smiles gallantly and speaks to my heart…
“Teachers know what needs to be done.”
Yes, they do.
But how do they accomplish what needs to be done when a thousand voices are drowning them out? How can they be the force their students need them to be when they are pulled into pieces by so many competing agendas?
The answer: Be real.
Be real in a way that shows students that teachers understand they need more than homework and discipline. They need love and support and often a snack. The latter seems trite, but think about how hungry our students are: hungry for sustenance, for attention, for confirmation that they matter.
As suggested in the above snapshot, I had the good fortune to attend a conference this week that sought to promote these ideals. ECET2, as the event-turned-movement has been named, refers to Elevating and Celebrating Effective Teaching and Teachers. It’s funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and it is the physical embodiment of the teaching philosophy that has permeated every one of my education-related posts.
At its heart is the idea that if you treat teachers like professionals, give them ample opportunities to network, and support their passion, you can revolutionize the field of education, thereby enriching the lives of future generations. Sounds like a no-brainer to me…but, then again, I’m one of those hippie teachers who thinks building authentic relationships is a better measure of success than the Value Added Model.
ECET2 events bring together teachers from across the nation and then energize them with moving speakers, problem-solving colleague circles, and specialized sessions to promote innovation. In essence, the events are a one-stop shop for inspiring educators to be the best they can be and then giving them the resources to take that momentum back to their districts.
For this conference, we were allowed to select our preferred sessions. So, following Melinda Gates’s inspiring discussion, I attended a session run by the National Blogging Collaborative that promoted the importance of teachers’ voices. Not only were teachers encouraged to share their narratives in an effort to combat sensationalized media negativity toward educators, but almost more importantly, they were able to have an honest discussion about how integral it is for teachers to use those narratives to connect with their students—it’s as though they designed the session with me in mind!
“Be real,” they said, and my heart sang.
Yes. Be real. Be honest. Be true.
My students don’t need to know my entire history or everything that’s going on in my life, but they do need to know that my understanding extends beyond the threshold of my classroom. It stretches down the hall, past the parking lot, and into their struggles with poverty, isolation, and family. Although I can’t eliminate their obstacles, I can listen carefully and then try to help them overcome them. And afterward, I’ll share their sheepish smile, offer a fist bump, and wholeheartedly agree with their declaration that “the struggle is real.”
Yes it is, my friend. And the only way I can help you overcome it is by being real myself.
Thank you for keeping it real!