TL;DR:
- Do you view yourself as a teacher leader?
- Connect with others to grow even more than you could solo!
- Leaders arise in challenging times.
- Stay the path and focus on your long-term goal or why.
Are You a Teacher Leader?
I recently published an Instagram post about the first time I considered myself to be a teacher leader. The Instagram post referenced educational speaker, Jimmy Casas. As I listened to the interview between Casas and the host, my mindset began to change. I started to see myself as more than a teacher. I knew my job was important, but I had never seen myself in that light before.
My time in education has brought tremendous highs and some difficult lows. As I have gotten older and have gained experience, I’ve learned how to navigate the different situations I’ve found myself in. It wasn’t always easy, and for many years, I doubted myself and my place in education.
Oftentimes, leaders appear in the moment when there are challenges. It’s what they do when those challenges arise that influence the impact that they have on the people around them. Click To TweetBetter Together
My saving grace has been the people I’ve been able to learn from. I have turned to the colleagues I have worked with, the podcasts I’ve listened to, and the books I’ve read for inspiration and support. Their stories have taught me how to overcome the difficulties that teaching can often present.
Robert John Meehan said, “The most valuable resource that teachers have is each other. Without collaboration our growth is limited to our own perspectives.”
We are better when we work together.
[scroll down to keep reading]
Stay the Path
Oftentimes, leaders appear in the moment when there are challenges. It’s what they do when those challenges arise that influence the impact that they have on the people around them.
When you’re faced with difficult obstacles, remember that the concept of circumstances being “perfect” does not exist. Recognize that the situation you might find yourself in, though challenging at the time, may lead you to personal growth, to something even greater than you imagined. Approach the situation with grace, empathy, and perseverance and remember there is a community around you who is willing to help.
Stay the path.
About Nicole Kelly
Nicole Kelly is an educator from southwestern Pennsylvania. She has eight years of teaching experience in public and private educational settings. Nicole earned her undergraduate and graduate degrees from Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, PA. Currently, she teaches full-time and is the Content Curator for Education Blueprint.
