Whose Voice Matters? 🗣️🔇


Hey Reader,

If you've ever planned an event or party, you know the pressure of ensuring everything is in place. You mull over details: Are the decorations in place? Are there enough accomodations for everyone? The process can be nerve-racking. Underneath all the emotions is this truth - how I plan for my guests communicates something about their value in my life.

I am feeling all of those emotions planning for the arrival of my staff and students this year. I want to communicate that I considered their needs as planned this summer. I want to ensure that things have improved based on the feedback I received from them. I want to start the year strong. I hope you feel the same if you've already started the school year or it's just beginning. My advice, regardless of your position, is to center your students.


The words above are fueling my approach to this year. As an educator, I hated having some administrator come into my room with feedback they couldn't demonstrate depending on a relationship with me they didn't invest in. I never wanted to replicate this harm on my students. Without a focus on relationships, the structures you have in place mean little to whoever you serve. I know...I know...there's that word again - relationships. But let me explain:

Cultivate Authentic Connection

If you only get to know your students or staff in the context of your 'shoulder to shoulder' tasks (think assignments, observations, feedback), you don't have the investment in who they are to support that. Your efforts to connect student effort with their improvement matter deeply. It gives them agency. Student agency is the recognition that action and outcomes are related. When we subscribe to the 'banking model' education system, students are to sit and be passive agents in their learning. Building this agency and connection requires a shift in our language. We must attribute success to their efforts - specifically, intentionally, and repeatedly. Prioritize getting to know your students on a personal level. Take an interest in their lives, hobbies, and aspirations. Authentic connections build trust and create a safe space for students to express themselves and engage more deeply in learning.

Prioritize Support

Creating a sense of belonging is vital. Be mindful that belonging isn't something that students can feel from you alone. As a teacher, you must first be a compassionate listener. Take time to understand your students' stories, dreams, and challenges. This builds trust and demonstrates that you genuinely care about their well-being. Your authenticity and vulnerability in sharing your experiences can create an open environment where students feel safe to be themselves. I started my career believing that teaching was something you put on, not something you embody. I continued to put on inauthentic personas. I evoked control and counterfeits, but my students needed my authenticity.

Secondly, be a proactive community builder—Foster connections among your students by designing collaborative activities that encourage teamwork and peer support. Celebrate diversity and make space for various perspectives. Students feel valued and more inclined to engage when they see their identities and backgrounds acknowledged and celebrated. Alongside this, be a continuous learner, open to understanding the evolving dynamics of your classroom and seeking ways to adapt your teaching approach. It's about creating an environment where every student's voice is heard, acknowledged, and respected, paving the way for a true sense of belonging.

Move Students Center Stage

Fostering agency in your classroom or building means ridding yourself of the main character syndrome. Everything isn't about nor depends on you! You must first be a genuine collaborator. Invite students to participate in classroom decisions actively, whether choosing project topics, suggesting activities, or discussing specific rules. This not only empowers them but also signals that their perspectives genuinely matter.

Lead with your ears. Encourage students to express their thoughts, even if they differ from your own. This openness creates a culture where student agency is valued, and their input drives the learning experience. Furthermore, be an adaptable guide. Flexibility in your teaching approach allows students to explore their interests while developing critical skills. When students have agency over their learning, they create a sense of responsibility and a deeper engagement with their education. Ultimately, it's about embracing a teaching style that nurtures independence, choice, and active participation, setting the stage for students to thrive as self-directed learners.

When I guide schools on restorative practices, I always take them to the social discipline window (pictured above). The four quadrants relate to our approach to students or staff. We must work to be in the top right quadrant, meaning we do within with those we serve. The default mode of our schools is set to enact rules, changes, and responsibilities to others. When we choose to over with, we prove that we don't value or trust those we serve. We tend to be ruled by fear or control. The result is a deteriorating culture. You have to choose differently so you can disrupt. Those you serve depend on it!

Best wishes as you have or are starting the year. Let's disrupt together!

When you're ready, here are three ways I can help:

  1. EDU:Mastermind - Ready to conquer today's education challenges? Say hello to our EDU:Mastermind. We get it – the daily struggles. We're here to guide you through game-changing solutions. Day one, let's craft that inspiring school vibe with your leaders. On day two, we'll gear up your team with fresh strategies and even do policy check-ups. Our goal? Your school's success, plain and simple.
  2. Speaking - As you make me your go-to speaker, we'll crack the code of complex ideas into practical steps. These keynotes challenge you to rethink, plan, and act smarter in education. The goal is always to leave educators empowered and ready to reshape the educational landscape.
  3. the adaptED framework™- In the education scene, one thing often slips through the cracks: getting and embracing what makes each student tick. This miss can intentionally add to the school-to-prison pipeline, hitting students who feel misunderstood or unfairly treated. We're here to break this cycle with the adaptED Framework™. Educators, it's time to flip the script and make your classroom all about your students. With the adaptED Framework™, you're ditching the old ways and diving into a teaching style that sees and values every learner. Prepare to make your classroom a hub of collaboration, empathy, and real understanding, where every student shines in studies and feelings.

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