August 5, 2022
Dear Educators,
It is the start of the 2022-2023 school year, and I honor your choice to be educators because I believe that a well-educated population is a more peaceful, happy, loving and prosperous population. As one who taught for 34 years, there is much that I miss about the profession and the potential that education holds for a better world. That's why I am so happy that there are so many ready and willing to work on behalf of students' best interests and potential.
As I speak to educators and families with regard to the upcoming school year, I am asking you to take the matters I outline here seriously because they are matters that truly make a difference with regard to a good education, the kind of education that empowers and enriches lives.
Take care of yourself
No one can serve others if they do not take care of themselves. No teacher is superhuman. Make sure that you work a good day, but don't overwork. Instead get the rest, recreation, and personal time you need to ensure that you are healthy and happy as that will make you a good educator.
Treat every family and student with respect and care
In the end, almost every family and student wants to work with you to make the school year the best possible year, and it's likely that many of those families and students will come to school with some challenges that you'll need to figure out together. First, as a wise educator recently advised, validate their feelings and experiences. People, in general, want to be heard. Next, work together on the solution to any challenge or problem that exists. You don't have to have all the answers, but generally when an educator, family and other school personnel work together, positive solutions are found. And, don't judge--we all have different experiences in life and it's difficult to fully understand where each other is coming from. Stay clear of judging. Finally, find the sweet spots--look for activities, words, and mindsets that bring about the best possible education for every child and the best possible service to every family.
Mind your words
The words we use matter. Work with colleagues to ensure that the way you talk to and about students and families is respectful and positive at all times.
Collaborate
One of the great aspects of any learning community is the opportunity to work together to provide the best possible education to each and every child.
Creativity
Focus on the ways that you can create a program and service for students and families that results in confident, energizing, enriching learning--the kind of learning that empowers children's ability to live good lives now and into the future.
Strategically advocate
Schools are not perfect, and as the world changes, education must change too. When you notice something that's wrong or could be better, work with colleagues to strategically advocate for change. Reflect on the matter, do your research, collect evidence, and make a plan to improve the situation. Don't sit back passively and ignore the opportunity for promising change. Instead, advocate for better.
Smile
When in doubt, take a big breath and smile. Smiles are magical in the education setting. A smile sends the message that you care, and that you'll work for a positive solution.
Observe, listen, and reflect
Stop and observe what is going on now and then. Listen to what the students are saying. Reflect on the situation at hand.
Do your best
No educator or parent is perfect or superhuman. That's why the aim has to be to do your best. As they say, "Don't let perfect get in the way of good."
Be professional
Sometimes due to the fact that some educational environments lack the respect, up-to-date schedules/facilities, reasonable expectations or fair pay, people may resort to less than professional behavior, attitudes, or language. Don't do that. Instead, always act with a polite professional demeanor that takes the job seriously.
Keep your personal life separate from your school life
As educators you will naturally share your personal life at school since as educators your personal life intersects closely with your school life. Yet, it's important to have a personal life outside of school. Your colleagues, and in particular your supervisors, don't need to know all about your personal life. When you keep some distance between the two, you carve out a haven for yourself at home that's separate from school, and that's important with regard to the good energy and mindset you need to teach well.
Be transparent
There's no need for secrets in school. Regularly communicate with families and colleagues in a concise manner. Let them know what has happened, what's happening now, and what will happen in the classroom. Share the objectives and invite their ideas and questions. This kind of transparency lays a solid foundation for a strong learning community.
Build and contribute to a learning community
The best schools are learning communities where administrators, educators, families, and students work as a team with the objective of teaching every child well.
Be extra loving and caring for the unique individuals in your midst
Every child brings a unique profile to the classroom, but some fall far from the mean. These children bring profiles that are often difficult to figure out and serve. Sometimes children like this suffer in schools where teachers focus on the what most children need. Make sure that you are doing everything you can to serve the children and families that fall at the extremes in your midst. These are the people that are sometimes the most challenging because they don't fit neatly into the school environment, programs, rules, or atmosphere in general. When you do all you can to serve these individuals well, you actually serve everyone better.
I honor the nation-building, enriching, and empowering work that dedicated educators and families do each and every day. This commitment to an enriching, empowering education creates a better world for all of us. There's no one way to do this work, yet there are many tried-and-true programs, sources of current research, and environments for bringing out the best in everyone. May the year ahead be the best possible year of learning and developing for each and everyone of you.
With Gratitude,
Maureen Devlin