Hey Reader,

Have you seen the viral TikTok video of the teacher speaking on the grade level of his students (click here to see the video)? It has caused quite a debate. The gaps in learning we are seeing aren't new. However, the pandemic has undoubtedly put the magnifying glass up to these preexisting inequities. This has raised the question: who is to blame? Cue the constant finger-pointing. The parents blame the teachers. The teachers blame the parents and administration. The administration blames the central office and teaching. While everyone is finger-pointing, the one group most affected is the students. We cannot boil this complex issue down to one party or the next. We must take collective responsibility. My grandmother always told me that when you point a finger, there are three pointing back at you.

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Where have we allowed average to exist?

This question is my point of reflection on my leadership. Where have I become complacent? Where have I allowed mediocrity to become acceptable? Where have I disregarded aspects within my school community that I know aren't working?

We all have reasons - doubting ourselves and others, frustration, exhaustion, lack of community. I'm not saying those factors aren't real. There are always things that may exist beyond your control. But instead of heading to the faculty lounge or your educator group chat to complain, what solutions have you brought to the table? If you present problems with no answers, you're just complaining. What work or effort lies at the end of your complaint?

In the movie Good Will Hunting, Matt Damon is a young janitor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Despite his troubled past and lack of formal education, he possesses an extraordinary mathematical talent. Dr. Sean Maguire, played by Robin Williams, is a therapist who sees the potential in Will. He encourages Will to confront his past traumas. You see, Will, like many educators, allowed his efficacy to be deeply impacted by his past. What about you? Perhaps progress hasn't happened in your classroom and school community because you have permitted previous years' struggles to calculate interest into the present. Community, the way forward in education isn't going to happen with all of us looking at the problems and uttering our collective, "He/she/they did it."

The path forward begins with our conscious commitment to be part of the solution and take meaningful action. What can you do? Firstly, prioritize your healing. We must recognize that our hurts and traumas persist, even when we wear professional masks in the school building. We can better focus on shaping our students' future by addressing our past.

Secondly, break free from the addiction to external affirmation. While there are instances where we witness the immediate rewards of our efforts – such as extinguishing potential conflicts or going the extra mile – much of our work resembles planting seeds, often without seeing their growth.

Thirdly, initiate a reset. Too frequently, our students enter our classrooms and exhibit behavioral challenges. They may act out, struggle with emotional regulation, or cause harm to others. It's crucial to choose each day, to see the best in them right now. Avoid compounding their challenges with punitive discipline or embarrassment. We must strive for excellence and eliminate any traces of mediocrity within ourselves.

But my leadership is in the way.

As I continue to listen and serve educators, one thing that continues to come up is how liberation and justice work stalls in the presence of resistant leadership. I get it. I joined the dark side of leadership a few years ago. Much of my work involves showing through listening, emotional intelligence, and empathy that I support my teachers and staff. It hasn't been easy, and the result is far from over. But what if that's not your situation? What happens if your leadership is in the way?

You can leverage your supervisor's blind spots to affect change. Your ideas deserve attention. That's why I'm inviting you to participate in my workshop, EmpowerED: A Workshop on Managing Up In Schools. Community: I've been immersed in education for the last fifteen years - from substitute teacher to school boards. I've had to deal with all kinds of leaders. Ones who micromanage, ones who are brand new and feel the need to dominate out of insecurity, and those who aren't available - I've seen them all. In our time together, we'll help build a principal profile that will give you key ways to navigate communication to get your ideas heard and executed.

Click the button below and join me on October 21st!

Let's affect change where we can, Community. That starts with us!

Let's keep pushing. ✊🏿