as an educator I’m constantly seeking ways to be better for you
ways to be better for you
ways to be better for you sometimes being better means that I’m
sometimes being better means that I’m
sometimes being better means that I’m able to utilize some of this now some of
able to utilize some of this now some of
able to utilize some of this now some of the knowledge and skills that I’ve
the knowledge and skills that I’ve
the knowledge and skills that I’ve learned and have acquired over time
learned and have acquired over time
learned and have acquired over time sometimes it means I have to engage in
sometimes it means I have to engage in
sometimes it means I have to engage in new learning at all times it means that
new learning at all times it means that
new learning at all times it means that I have to be open and willing to
I have to be open and willing to
I have to be open and willing to position myself as a learner when
position myself as a learner when
position myself as a learner when someone thinks of high school they
someone thinks of high school they
someone thinks of high school they typically do not think of adult learning
typically do not think of adult learning
typically do not think of adult learning the focus is primarily focused on
the focus is primarily focused on
the focus is primarily focused on student learning
student learning
student learning myk’s my life experiences have taught me
myk’s my life experiences have taught me
myk’s my life experiences have taught me otherwise many educators have spent
otherwise many educators have spent
otherwise many educators have spent years obtaining degrees in various
years obtaining degrees in various
years obtaining degrees in various endorsements that prepares to teach
endorsements that prepares to teach
endorsements that prepares to teach hypothetical students across what seems
hypothetical students across what seems
hypothetical students across what seems to be hypothetical context with some of
to be hypothetical context with some of
to be hypothetical context with some of our students facing hypothetical
our students facing hypothetical
our students facing hypothetical situations as pre-service teachers we
situations as pre-service teachers we
situations as pre-service teachers we would vacillate in the theoretical we
would vacillate in the theoretical we
would vacillate in the theoretical we would discuss how to handle various
would discuss how to handle various
would discuss how to handle various situations what truly had no idea what
situations what truly had no idea what
situations what truly had no idea what we were getting into for most of us we
we were getting into for most of us we
we were getting into for most of us we only knew of our own educational
only knew of our own educational
only knew of our own educational experiences or were aware of the
experiences or were aware of the
experiences or were aware of the experiences of our parents siblings or
experiences of our parents siblings or
experiences of our parents siblings or close friends the truth is we had no
close friends the truth is we had no
close friends the truth is we had no idea what’s to come and after jumping
idea what’s to come and after jumping
idea what’s to come and after jumping into our first school with our first
into our first school with our first
into our first school with our first classes filled with students we realized
classes filled with students we realized
classes filled with students we realized that the traditional ways in which were
that the traditional ways in which were
that the traditional ways in which were taught to educate and prepare for the
taught to educate and prepare for the
taught to educate and prepare for the field of education it’s not enough I
field of education it’s not enough I
field of education it’s not enough I guess it’s sort of like parenting is
guess it’s sort of like parenting is
guess it’s sort of like parenting is anyone ever truly prepared I live in a
anyone ever truly prepared I live in a
anyone ever truly prepared I live in a state of becoming and my life is truly a
state of becoming and my life is truly a
state of becoming and my life is truly a journey this not only pertains to my
journey this not only pertains to my
journey this not only pertains to my life overall but more specifically it
life overall but more specifically it
life overall but more specifically it pertains to my life as an educator I
pertains to my life as an educator I
pertains to my life as an educator I think about my experiences as a senior
think about my experiences as a senior
think about my experiences as a senior in college assigned a student teach at a
in college assigned a student teach at a
in college assigned a student teach at a local high school I wanted to student
local high school I wanted to student
local high school I wanted to student teach in the city hoping to have a
teach in the city hoping to have a
teach in the city hoping to have a different experience than my suburban
different experience than my suburban
different experience than my suburban education and needed to make sure that I
education and needed to make sure that I
education and needed to make sure that I was able to get back on campus though in
was able to get back on campus though in
was able to get back on campus though in time for my pre-season practice every
time for my pre-season practice every
time for my pre-season practice every day because I was a student athlete I
day because I was a student athlete I
day because I was a student athlete I wasn’t able to teach where I wanted to
wasn’t able to teach where I wanted to
wasn’t able to teach where I wanted to and ended up at a local high school
and ended up at a local high school
and ended up at a local high school growing up I attended an elite private
growing up I attended an elite private
growing up I attended an elite private school from the agent from the grades of
school from the agent from the grades of
school from the agent from the grades of third through twelfth grade my
third through twelfth grade my
third through twelfth grade my graduating class was approximately 85
graduating class was approximately 85
graduating class was approximately 85 students
students
students here I was walking into one of the
here I was walking into one of the
here I was walking into one of the biggest high schools in the area with
biggest high schools in the area with
biggest high schools in the area with over 3,200 students in attendance I fell
over 3,200 students in attendance I fell
over 3,200 students in attendance I fell in love with everything about the school
in love with everything about the school
in love with everything about the school and quickly had to admit that I was
and quickly had to admit that I was
and quickly had to admit that I was exactly where I needed to be I marveled
exactly where I needed to be I marveled
exactly where I needed to be I marveled at the brilliance wisdom and the command
at the brilliance wisdom and the command
at the brilliance wisdom and the command of my mentor teacher mr. Clayton Taylor
of my mentor teacher mr. Clayton Taylor
of my mentor teacher mr. Clayton Taylor he seemed like a master magician to me
he seemed like a master magician to me
he seemed like a master magician to me he was able to create a learning
he was able to create a learning
he was able to create a learning environment where students were
environment where students were
environment where students were comfortable challenged inspired and
comfortable challenged inspired and
comfortable challenged inspired and engaged
engaged
engaged he took the highest performers to new
he took the highest performers to new
he took the highest performers to new heights and he motivated and built
heights and he motivated and built
heights and he motivated and built resilience among students who needed
resilience among students who needed
resilience among students who needed different tools or different teaching
different tools or different teaching
different tools or different teaching techniques to grasp the same information
techniques to grasp the same information
techniques to grasp the same information he believed that all students possess
he believed that all students possess
he believed that all students possess endless learning potential and that some
endless learning potential and that some
endless learning potential and that some students just needed him to do something
students just needed him to do something
students just needed him to do something different to support their learning that
different to support their learning that
different to support their learning that was ok it was welcomed and it was the
was ok it was welcomed and it was the
was ok it was welcomed and it was the norm in his classes everyone was
norm in his classes everyone was
norm in his classes everyone was learning and growing how do you know so
learning and growing how do you know so
learning and growing how do you know so much about history I would ask it was
much about history I would ask it was
much about history I would ask it was enough to keep track of life as we know
enough to keep track of life as we know
enough to keep track of life as we know it but Mr Taylor talked about history as
it but Mr Taylor talked about history as
it but Mr Taylor talked about history as if he was the first human being on earth
if he was the first human being on earth
if he was the first human being on earth with insights experiences and a story
with insights experiences and a story
with insights experiences and a story related to everything how did you know
related to everything how did you know
related to everything how did you know the samantha and needed an altered
the samantha and needed an altered
the samantha and needed an altered assignment and how did you know that
assignment and how did you know that
assignment and how did you know that michael needed to keep his head down for
michael needed to keep his head down for
michael needed to keep his head down for a bit but was listening to every word
a bit but was listening to every word
a bit but was listening to every word that you said how did you know that
that you said how did you know that
that you said how did you know that Sarah needed visual cues to follow along
Sarah needed visual cues to follow along
Sarah needed visual cues to follow along in the lesson every single day I had
in the lesson every single day I had
in the lesson every single day I had these types of questions for him he
these types of questions for him he
these types of questions for him he would chuckle looking over his glasses
would chuckle looking over his glasses
would chuckle looking over his glasses with his big eyes perhaps he was
with his big eyes perhaps he was
with his big eyes perhaps he was flattered by my all which my excitement
flattered by my all which my excitement
flattered by my all which my excitement and curiosity made impossible for me to
and curiosity made impossible for me to
and curiosity made impossible for me to hide there was an air of nostalgia as
hide there was an air of nostalgia as
hide there was an air of nostalgia as you reminisce on his educational career
you reminisce on his educational career
you reminisce on his educational career spanning over 30 years he was always
spanning over 30 years he was always
spanning over 30 years he was always very thoughtful and careful in his
very thoughtful and careful in his
very thoughtful and careful in his responses to me adding the perfect
responses to me adding the perfect
responses to me adding the perfect amount of new information and often
amount of new information and often
amount of new information and often ending his statements with ideas or
ending his statements with ideas or
ending his statements with ideas or questions that would leave me wanting to
questions that would leave me wanting to
questions that would leave me wanting to know more
know more
know more yet sensing the responsibility that I
yet sensing the responsibility that I
yet sensing the responsibility that I had to find out the answers on my own
had to find out the answers on my own
had to find out the answers on my own the same energy that he poured into
the same energy that he poured into
the same energy that he poured into every fragile mind who walked into his
every fragile mind who walked into his
every fragile mind who walked into his classrooms where the Saint was the same
classrooms where the Saint was the same
classrooms where the Saint was the same energy that he poured into me I was just
energy that he poured into me I was just
energy that he poured into me I was just a little older I was a sponge trying to
a little older I was a sponge trying to
a little older I was a sponge trying to soak up as much as
soak up as much as
soak up as much as possible feeling a lot of pressure in
possible feeling a lot of pressure in
possible feeling a lot of pressure in feeling inadequately prepared for one of
feeling inadequately prepared for one of
feeling inadequately prepared for one of the biggest responsibilities that I’ve
the biggest responsibilities that I’ve
the biggest responsibilities that I’ve accepted my life becoming a teacher one
accepted my life becoming a teacher one
accepted my life becoming a teacher one day as we debrief the day and as we
day as we debrief the day and as we
day as we debrief the day and as we begin to prepare for my transition into
begin to prepare for my transition into
begin to prepare for my transition into taking full responsibility over his
taking full responsibility over his
taking full responsibility over his classes for the next few weeks he sends
classes for the next few weeks he sends
classes for the next few weeks he sends all of my anxiety and stressed he paused
all of my anxiety and stressed he paused
all of my anxiety and stressed he paused looked at me with those big glassy eyes
looked at me with those big glassy eyes
looked at me with those big glassy eyes and stayed it with his deep Stern yet
and stayed it with his deep Stern yet
and stayed it with his deep Stern yet caring voice Shayla the students will
caring voice Shayla the students will
caring voice Shayla the students will teach you everything you need to know
teach you everything you need to know
teach you everything you need to know the biggest obstacle you’ll face is
the biggest obstacle you’ll face is
the biggest obstacle you’ll face is allowing them to I sat in silence for a
allowing them to I sat in silence for a
allowing them to I sat in silence for a few minutes as he went back to grading
few minutes as he went back to grading
few minutes as he went back to grading assignments and entering grades in his
assignments and entering grades in his
assignments and entering grades in his paper gradebook in a matter of seconds
paper gradebook in a matter of seconds
paper gradebook in a matter of seconds his wise and sage wisdom rocked my world
his wise and sage wisdom rocked my world
his wise and sage wisdom rocked my world he taught me more than all the courses I
he taught me more than all the courses I
he taught me more than all the courses I had taken to prepare to teach his advice
had taken to prepare to teach his advice
had taken to prepare to teach his advice tamed my arrogance totally exposed my
tamed my arrogance totally exposed my
tamed my arrogance totally exposed my ignorance and shifted my beliefs and
ignorance and shifted my beliefs and
ignorance and shifted my beliefs and anxieties about being the primary expert
anxieties about being the primary expert
anxieties about being the primary expert in the room it set me on a journey
in the room it set me on a journey
in the room it set me on a journey during my years as a teacher and then as
during my years as a teacher and then as
during my years as a teacher and then as an administrator to see myself as a lead
an administrator to see myself as a lead
an administrator to see myself as a lead learner with my students every single
learner with my students every single
learner with my students every single one of my students as my teachers the
one of my students as my teachers the
one of my students as my teachers the years that followed as a teacher with
years that followed as a teacher with
years that followed as a teacher with some of the best days of my life I had
some of the best days of my life I had
some of the best days of my life I had many great days but I also had plenty of
many great days but I also had plenty of
many great days but I also had plenty of days that were difficult and challenging
days that were difficult and challenging
days that were difficult and challenging working through my difficulties caused
working through my difficulties caused
working through my difficulties caused me to learn more about myself and was
me to learn more about myself and was
me to learn more about myself and was also at those times when I grew the most
also at those times when I grew the most
also at those times when I grew the most oh and about those challenging days at
oh and about those challenging days at
oh and about those challenging days at plenty of them these were mostly moments
plenty of them these were mostly moments
plenty of them these were mostly moments when mister will when mr. Taylor’s
when mister will when mr. Taylor’s
when mister will when mr. Taylor’s wisdom was buried under my own will
wisdom was buried under my own will
wisdom was buried under my own will times when I lost sight of his advice
times when I lost sight of his advice
times when I lost sight of his advice because I wanted to get to a certain
because I wanted to get to a certain
because I wanted to get to a certain point in the curriculum whether my
point in the curriculum whether my
point in the curriculum whether my students demonstrated learning or not
students demonstrated learning or not
students demonstrated learning or not times when I was more focused on order
times when I was more focused on order
times when I was more focused on order and compliance rather
and compliance rather
and compliance rather weather than considering the constant
weather than considering the constant
weather than considering the constant intersection of issues of depression
intersection of issues of depression
intersection of issues of depression pain hurt stress confusion and shame
pain hurt stress confusion and shame
pain hurt stress confusion and shame that many of my students brought to my
that many of my students brought to my
that many of my students brought to my class into school everyday times when I
class into school everyday times when I
class into school everyday times when I failed to create a learning environment
failed to create a learning environment
failed to create a learning environment where multiple perspectives were shared
where multiple perspectives were shared
where multiple perspectives were shared and present in our examination of
and present in our examination of
and present in our examination of history I can keep going my students
history I can keep going my students
history I can keep going my students taught me to slow down to learn who they
taught me to slow down to learn who they
taught me to slow down to learn who they were and they taught me about the
were and they taught me about the
were and they taught me about the importance of establishing meaningful
importance of establishing meaningful
importance of establishing meaningful relationships with them they taught me
relationships with them they taught me
relationships with them they taught me the value and finding out what inspires
the value and finding out what inspires
the value and finding out what inspires and excites them they told me to try new
and excites them they told me to try new
and excites them they told me to try new they taught me to try different
they taught me to try different
they taught me to try different strategies instructional activities and
strategies instructional activities and
strategies instructional activities and different ways to assess their learning
different ways to assess their learning
different ways to assess their learning they taught me that each of them have
they taught me that each of them have
they taught me that each of them have knowledge skills and gifts that when
knowledge skills and gifts that when
knowledge skills and gifts that when leveraged could not only support their
leveraged could not only support their
leveraged could not only support their learning but their learning of their
learning but their learning of their
learning but their learning of their peers as well my students reminded me
peers as well my students reminded me
peers as well my students reminded me that they all wanted to be successful
that they all wanted to be successful
that they all wanted to be successful without exception but many things
without exception but many things
without exception but many things outside of their control were getting in
outside of their control were getting in
outside of their control were getting in the way sometimes these were things
the way sometimes these were things
the way sometimes these were things outside of school sometimes they were
outside of school sometimes they were
outside of school sometimes they were obstacles and structures within the
obstacles and structures within the
obstacles and structures within the school and sometimes the obstacles were
school and sometimes the obstacles were
school and sometimes the obstacles were deeply held beliefs that others had
deeply held beliefs that others had
deeply held beliefs that others had about them they taught me to care about
about them they taught me to care about
about them they taught me to care about them beyond grades and beyond academic
them beyond grades and beyond academic
them beyond grades and beyond academic achievement and to care about them in
achievement and to care about them in
achievement and to care about them in their entirety he taught me to care
their entirety he taught me to care
their entirety he taught me to care about their struggles their stresses and
about their struggles their stresses and
about their struggles their stresses and to understand their challenges rather
to understand their challenges rather
to understand their challenges rather than it be like everyone else and
than it be like everyone else and
than it be like everyone else and punished them for the things that they
punished them for the things that they
punished them for the things that they carry or to label them or seek other
carry or to label them or seek other
carry or to label them or seek other spaces for them to go they were simply
spaces for them to go they were simply
spaces for them to go they were simply asking me to love them through their
asking me to love them through their
asking me to love them through their struggles and hoping that it would work
struggles and hoping that it would work
struggles and hoping that it would work with them to lighten their loads my
with them to lighten their loads my
with them to lighten their loads my students taught me to honor their
students taught me to honor their
students taught me to honor their journey they were constantly bombarded
journey they were constantly bombarded
journey they were constantly bombarded with messages that of how they should
with messages that of how they should
with messages that of how they should look what they should think how they
look what they should think how they
look what they should think how they should dress what they should believe
should dress what they should believe
should dress what they should believe about themselves and what they should
about themselves and what they should
about themselves and what they should believe about the world they were
believe about the world they were
believe about the world they were overwhelmed with messages that
overwhelmed with messages that
overwhelmed with messages that reencounter to who they truly were yet
reencounter to who they truly were yet
reencounter to who they truly were yet they found themselves becoming what
they found themselves becoming what
they found themselves becoming what others wanted for them which created a
others wanted for them which created a
others wanted for them which created a lot of internal stress and pain looking
lot of internal stress and pain looking
lot of internal stress and pain looking back I have to laugh of my eagerness as
back I have to laugh of my eagerness as
back I have to laugh of my eagerness as a 21 year old senior in college
a 21 year old senior in college
a 21 year old senior in college preparing to teach students who were
preparing to teach students who were
preparing to teach students who were only 4 to 8 years younger than me if I
only 4 to 8 years younger than me if I
only 4 to 8 years younger than me if I wrote down all of the questions that I
wrote down all of the questions that I
wrote down all of the questions that I asked mr. Taylor I’m sure I would have a
asked mr. Taylor I’m sure I would have a
asked mr. Taylor I’m sure I would have a stack of composition books I guess I
stack of composition books I guess I
stack of composition books I guess I should have mentioned he was extremely
should have mentioned he was extremely
should have mentioned he was extremely patient with me I was in all of him at
patient with me I was in all of him at
patient with me I was in all of him at the time but as I engaged as a teacher
the time but as I engaged as a teacher
the time but as I engaged as a teacher and now as an administrator my all has
and now as an administrator my all has
and now as an administrator my all has shifted I now remain in all the many
shifted I now remain in all the many
shifted I now remain in all the many students that I have been blessed a
students that I have been blessed a
students that I have been blessed a partner
partner
partner during my career in education it is you
during my career in education it is you
during my career in education it is you who continues to push me and my thinking
who continues to push me and my thinking
who continues to push me and my thinking you continue to contribute to my
you continue to contribute to my
you continue to contribute to my learning since my first year working
learning since my first year working
learning since my first year working here every week I write your names on
here every week I write your names on
here every week I write your names on the school’s birthday board I’ve been
the school’s birthday board I’ve been
the school’s birthday board I’ve been encouraged to find ways to
encouraged to find ways to
encouraged to find ways to electronically display your names and
electronically display your names and
electronically display your names and your birthdays so I do not have to take
your birthdays so I do not have to take
your birthdays so I do not have to take the time at the end of the week or over
the time at the end of the week or over
the time at the end of the week or over the weekends to write your names
the weekends to write your names
the weekends to write your names selfishly there’s something special
selfishly there’s something special
selfishly there’s something special about engaging in this weekly ritual for
about engaging in this weekly ritual for
about engaging in this weekly ritual for me every week that I write your names I
me every week that I write your names I
me every week that I write your names I think about you I think about what I
think about you I think about what I
think about you I think about what I think about you walking to school early
think about you walking to school early
think about you walking to school early in the morning or getting dropped off to
in the morning or getting dropped off to
in the morning or getting dropped off to meet with your teachers I think about
meet with your teachers I think about
meet with your teachers I think about your late night practices and rehearsals
your late night practices and rehearsals
your late night practices and rehearsals and the countless amount of hours that
and the countless amount of hours that
and the countless amount of hours that you’re here during the day and over the
you’re here during the day and over the
you’re here during the day and over the weekends I think about you sitting in
weekends I think about you sitting in
weekends I think about you sitting in the cafeteria with your friends are
the cafeteria with your friends are
the cafeteria with your friends are sitting in alone in the house or sitting
sitting in alone in the house or sitting
sitting in alone in the house or sitting alone in the hallway because you’re too
alone in the hallway because you’re too
alone in the hallway because you’re too afraid to go into the cafeteria I think
afraid to go into the cafeteria I think
afraid to go into the cafeteria I think about your tears I think about your
about your tears I think about your
about your tears I think about your frustrations I think about you running
frustrations I think about you running
frustrations I think about you running up and down the field around the track
up and down the field around the track
up and down the field around the track across the court I think about you
across the court I think about you
across the court I think about you rocking out on stage and performing for
rocking out on stage and performing for
rocking out on stage and performing for your loved ones I think about the times
your loved ones I think about the times
your loved ones I think about the times when you’re exhausted and tired in need
when you’re exhausted and tired in need
when you’re exhausted and tired in need of a break I think of other times when
of a break I think of other times when
of a break I think of other times when you’re hurt by something someone said or
you’re hurt by something someone said or
you’re hurt by something someone said or how someone responded to you I think
how someone responded to you I think
how someone responded to you I think about you laughing and dancing with your
about you laughing and dancing with your
about you laughing and dancing with your friends and I also think about you
friends and I also think about you
friends and I also think about you ignoring your parents as they try to
ignoring your parents as they try to
ignoring your parents as they try to give you final reminders for the day as
give you final reminders for the day as
give you final reminders for the day as you’re getting out of the car in the
you’re getting out of the car in the
you’re getting out of the car in the morning as she shut the car door
morning as she shut the car door
morning as she shut the car door roll your eyes and walk towards the
roll your eyes and walk towards the
roll your eyes and walk towards the building all I can do is laugh because I
building all I can do is laugh because I
building all I can do is laugh because I was the same way in high school I think
was the same way in high school I think
was the same way in high school I think about you a lot and I pray for you every
about you a lot and I pray for you every
about you a lot and I pray for you every week as I write each letter of your
week as I write each letter of your
week as I write each letter of your first and last names on the board in the
first and last names on the board in the
first and last names on the board in the same breath I pray for myself you’re
same breath I pray for myself you’re
same breath I pray for myself you’re rapping principal and everyone that you
rapping principal and everyone that you
rapping principal and everyone that you interact with here in the school the
interact with here in the school the
interact with here in the school the magnitude of the responsibility that I
magnitude of the responsibility that I
magnitude of the responsibility that I accepted as a teacher 17 years ago is
accepted as a teacher 17 years ago is
accepted as a teacher 17 years ago is just as great today as I continued to
just as great today as I continued to
just as great today as I continued to ask questions and seek ways to ensure
ask questions and seek ways to ensure
ask questions and seek ways to ensure that all of you are learning and growing
that all of you are learning and growing
that all of you are learning and growing under our care and as I work hard to
under our care and as I work hard to
under our care and as I work hard to navigate the ever evolving and changing
navigate the ever evolving and changing
navigate the ever evolving and changing landscape of Education
landscape of Education
landscape of Education and the array of needs as you continue
and the array of needs as you continue
and the array of needs as you continue to present every single day my x mi in
to present every single day my x mi in
to present every single day my x mi in my times of confusion and uncertainty I
my times of confusion and uncertainty I
my times of confusion and uncertainty I go back to the core mr. Taylor’s wisdom
go back to the core mr. Taylor’s wisdom
go back to the core mr. Taylor’s wisdom it has been my resting place but it has
it has been my resting place but it has
it has been my resting place but it has also been my place of action and guess
also been my place of action and guess
also been my place of action and guess who’s constantly there it’s you you keep
who’s constantly there it’s you you keep
who’s constantly there it’s you you keep me up late at night and as you who wakes
me up late at night and as you who wakes
me up late at night and as you who wakes me up filled with purpose and a smile on
me up filled with purpose and a smile on
me up filled with purpose and a smile on my face every single morning in an issue
my face every single morning in an issue
my face every single morning in an issue who continues to teach me everything I
who continues to teach me everything I
who continues to teach me everything I need to know thank you
need to know thank you
need to know thank you [Applause]
”
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