Education Is NOT a Solo Act

Michael EarnshawBlog, Connect Better, Innovate Better, Lead Better, Manage Better, Reflect Better

TL;DR:

  • Being back together for the 2021-2022 school year has brought great joy but also great stress.
  • Collaborating is the best way to overcome the new obstacles we are facing. Together is better.

Education is not a solo act.

It never has been, never should be, and especially this school year can’t be. I didn’t think that I could feel more overwhelmed, exhausted, and out of my element than I did during the 2020-2021 school year. During that time, we were fully remote. And for a majority of it, we were teaching and leading from our kitchen tables, living rooms, and makeshift classrooms. This year, 2021-2022, was going to be different. There was no way it couldn’t be! The band was back together. Our entire staff and all of our students were filling the halls and classrooms once again, albeit donning masks and remaining three feet apart. But we were going to be together, and it was going to be grand!

The band was back together, and we were jamming through our set. It had been too long. But like any band on tour, sometimes the road gets to you. Click To Tweet

The first two weeks of this year were amazing! I can’t tell you how many times I had to choke back tears of joy from being back with our students. Our students, they’re the reason I do what I do, the reason I get out of bed each morning. Knowing I can help inspire them to know they can, and will, change our world for the better. The band was back together, and we were jamming through our set. It had been too long. 

But like any band on tour, sometimes the road gets to you.

There’s the age-old cliche saying, “The honeymoon is over.” And did our honeymoon phase end abruptly! Part of the problem was my mindset. I knew we weren’t coming back like “normal” as many of our procedures needed to be shifted and adopted due to safety protocols and mandates. What once ran as smooth as Silk Soymilk was now pouring like whole milk that was left out on the sidewalk on an August summer day in Chicago. Our parking lot resembled the Dan Ryan Expressway during rush hour. Breakfast was now being served in our classrooms and syrup seemed to refuse to surrender for many morning minutes. I did my best to problem-solve every issue and concern that was brought forth to me, relying on myself to ease some of the stress that all of our amazing educators were carrying on their shoulders this school year. 

This approach wasn’t working. It wasn’t helpful to our staff or myself. I found myself sprinting back into the dark hole I was in during much of the previous year, a destination I promised myself to never return to. 

Many amazing musicians have tried to start a solo career. Some were successful, but many were not. Playing solo wasn’t their strength. What made them so good was that they focused on their instrument and let the rest of the band focus on theirs. When they come together, that’s where the magic happens! 

I needed to turn to my band.

We were only fifteen days into the school year, and if I was already feeling like I was suffocating, there would be no way I could make it to the end of this year. 

“I don’t have all of the answers. If I did we wouldn’t have these concerns and issues. I am grateful that they have been brought forward. If there is ever anything you feel as an individual or team that needs to be addressed, let me know. I’d rather us find a solution quickly rather than have something turn into lunchroom gossip. Now, we’re going to brainstorm these issues together.” 

I stated that before diving into our collaborative portion of our staff meeting. The three main concerns brought forth the week prior from our staff were: arrival/dismissal, breakfast, and communication. I asked our superb staff to join the group where they felt they would have the biggest input— which problem can they help solve. The staff went quickly to a topic and began brainstorming. They shared their ideas and possible solutions on poster size Post-Its. Then each group had a spokesperson to share out. All three groups had amazing insight into ways we can alleviate some of the issues with each of these topics, some of which we agreed would go into effect immediately the next day. The rest, well that has given us a great starting point to make the needed changes within the next few days. 

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Without returning back to my band—our staff—I never would have pulled myself out of that dark space I was entering again. I am obviously not a successful solo artist. I’ve always known this, but for some insane reason thought I could do it. I’m glad my band was there to have my back, as I have theirs, and together we’re better. 

Please check out my latest book, The EduCulture Cookbook: Recipes & Dishes to Positively Impact Classroom & School Culture with EduMatch Books. 

About Mike Earnshaw

Michael Earnshaw is a father, husband, and elementary school principal. He is the author of The EduCulture Cookbook: Recipes and Dishes to Positively Transform School and Classroom Culture with EduMatch Publishing and co-host of the Punk Rock Classrooms Podcast. Michael strives to empower others to know they can change the world by fostering positive, trusting relationships and modeling risk-taking himself. When he’s not helping others and changing lives you can find him skateboarding, running, or sharing laughs with others.