Joe Nathan: What advice do you have for caring educators?
April 10, 2013 at 11:05 am
Joe Nathan Column – What advice would you give to a young man who recently asked for suggestions? He’s hoping for a career in which he helps make major improvements in public education. Here’s a little about him, and a few suggestions. Reactions welcome.
The young man works in a suburban public school. He’s a first-generation college graduate, and grew up in a “single-parent” home. He’s done what he’s supposed to do – graduate from high school and college, earn a master’s and obtain a job at a school. He sees a lot that needs improving.
The first person I talked with about him is Mary K. Boyd. Boyd has been a teacher and administrator in the St. Paul Public Schools, worked for Ramsey County, served as interim dean at the Hamline University College of Education, and directed St Paul’s “Street Academy. “ She suggested:
• Make sure you have a group of support that will keep you grounded, inspired and supported
• Constantly read and look for others who are being successful. Gain a greater understanding of what’s going on around the state and country
• Don’t give up!
Then I talked with Dr. Samuel Yigzaw, director of an award-winning, “Beat the Odds” K-12 charter school, Higher Ground Academy. Yigzaw also teaches at St. Mary’s University, and serves as a mentor in a Leadership Academy our organization runs. He recommended, “Know your resources, human and financial, well. Who can you count on, and for what? You can’t do it all!”
Boyd and Yigsaw’s advice reminded me of a one-page document in the publications area on our website, http://www.centerforschoolchange.org. It’s called “Reminders for Reformers.” Here are a few of the suggestions you’ll find there:
• Set priorities for the next week, month, six months and year. You can’t do everything you want, immediately. Every successful person I know sets some priorities, both personal and professional.
• Look for, read about and visit schools open to all that that are succeeding. Doesn’t matter whether they are district, charter or private. You want to be, as Mary K Boyd suggested, “a life-long learner.”
• Look for ways to share what you’ve learned. Write to local newspapers. Offer to make presentations to service groups.
• Make your school a community resource. Don’t just ask for help. Your students can help improve the environment. They can provide singing, drama or dance to senior citizens and other community groups. Having youngsters provide service is valuable for them and their audience.
• View families as allies and partners. While some will disappoint, many will be very helpful.
• Be prepared to be betrayed. Sometimes someone you trust will do this. It’s impossible to know why people do some things.
• Acknowledge mistakes and apologize. No one is perfect.
• Exercise. Stay fit. You are engaged in an ultra-marathon, not a sprint.
• Retain a sense of humor. While some of us are funnier than others, we all should laugh and enjoy our blessings.
• Stay positive. It is possible to make a difference. Creators ultimately accomplish more than complainers.
What’s on your list? What would you suggest to educators who want to make a difference?
Joe Nathan, formerly a Minnesota public school teacher and administrator, directs the Center for School Change. Reactions welcome, please comment below.
Gary Gruber
April 16, 2013 @ 1:11 pm
Terrific suggestions and I used many of them to the benefit of those I served as well as myself. I would add what Nan Keohane said are the three requirements of a good school leader.
1) “Solve problems.” And I say that if you have foresight you can anticipate problems and solve them before they become too large and complicated. 2. “Make things happen.” I believe you are the one who sets the tone and the pace for others and you are the driver of the mission and vision of the school. Marshall the resources of others to make things happen and get the work done. 3) “Take a stand.” When times of difficulty or conflict arise, and they will, be sure you can be clear and compelling as well as cool, calm and collected. If something controversial arises, and it will, know where you stand and why and be able to communicate your position with conviction.
Leading a school, or any organization that serves others, is challenging but also rewarding and noble work.
Brent Gish
April 16, 2013 @ 1:18 pm
Dr. Nathan,
“Major improvements” in public education are the result of a series of
small incremental improvements driven by basic data. Start small think big!
And, it’s about human relationships. Seek to connect and build
relationships—begin with your students, your professional colleagues,
your student’s parents/families, community, etc. Finally, take time to stay
healthy and never stop dreaming of what can be!
Brent Gish (former public school teacher & administrator)
Aaron Dorfman
April 16, 2013 @ 1:19 pm
I read your column every week, and this one caught my attention. Thanks for the invitation to respond.
In addition to the suggestions already provided, I would urge the young man to build power. As the famous quote from Frederick Douglas acknowledges, “Power concedes nothing without demand.” He should join together with community organizing groups working to improve public education, or civil rights groups or even with the teacher’s union if the folks in his area are passionate about improving schools. Many, but not all, of the problems he is encountering will require power-building to overcome. As you know, the right ideas don’t always prevail on their own just because they are the right ideas. An awareness of power and the proper exercise of it is also essential.
Best,
Aaron
Aaron Dorfman, Executive Director
National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy (NCRP)
Bryan Hickman
April 16, 2013 @ 1:21 pm
My suggestions for someone young and starting out is to find a school that has the culture of support and involvement that will let you participate in change. If you can learn how a good school operates, then you can take that experience and knowledge back to schools that need more help. If you are in a toxic culture, leave. You will never turn it around from the bottom.
Bryan Hickman
Bob Rose
April 16, 2013 @ 1:22 pm
Joe,
Excellent article on today’s EducationNews.org!
The best advice I personally would give to a young education student would be to read Marilyn Adams’ wonderful, though suppressed,new book, ABC Foundations for Young Children.
Professor Adams has requested via email that I help spread the word about it, which I am doing on my computer.
The gist of the book is that familiarity with the alphabet letters, before kids learn to read, is the most critical skill, and the best indicator of future success with literacy; and that presently schools and HeadStart are failing dismally in this regard.
I have been in email contact with Carmen Coleman, superintendent of the Danville, Kentucky school district. She hadn’t previously heard of the book, but is very much in favor of the principle I explained to her, and she will do her best to make her small district the best in the world during the upcoming school year.
It’s strange that a new book by the world’s leading authority on literacy education is being suppressed, but given the fact that this information refutes everything the “gurus” have been spouting for years, I guess we shouldn’t be surprised.
Best,
Bob Rose
Jasper, Georgia
Walter Thompson
April 16, 2013 @ 1:23 pm
Make sure you got into teaching for the right reason
David Rockensock
May 3, 2013 @ 9:34 am
Dear Mr. Nathan,
My name is David. I am a home educated seventh grader in the North Branch School District. I was reading your article on “What advice do you have for caring educators?” and thought I would write a few suggestions from my perspective as a student.
First, this young teacher might find a “few” sources if he states what he believes needs improvement. A lot of educators have already “been there, done that”, and could give excellent advice if only they knew about his situation.
Second, what are the differences between schools now and schools 200 plus years ago? Schools back then had already prepared their children for college by 8th grade! They did not have the discipline issues that we have now. So why do we have these issues?
Point A: Early American schools had higher standards. They pushed for better grades and taught their students more information in a shorter time frame. These methods of teaching need to be utilized.
Point B: They had a better understanding of discipline… and when to use it. If we do not draw the line and discipline sternly when the line is crossed, students will take advantage of their teachers.
I will sum this up with Point C: The Bible was prominent in early American schools. When we took away the Bible from the schools, we took away the higher standards and morals from our children and their teachers. When we have the Bible as our standard, we use it to draw the line on our behavior… and to show when discipline is needed. We use it to set our priorities and goals high. We have something to live for, look to for advice, and use as a guide. It needs to be brought back into the schools. Point C sums up how to fix the problems in Points A and B quickly and efficiently.
If he can follow these points, then I believe he will be an amazing teacher.
Sincerely,
David Rockensock