"...make sure you are not the last..."

I want to start by saying this is not a political post.

No matter how your vote fell, it is amazing to think that on the 100th year anniversary for women's right to vote, our country has chosen a woman Vice President. That really is historic. With all of the hype online, I ran across a Kamala quote that has a strong connection to teachers.

It is easy to get busy & stressed with the multitude of responsibilities you have as an educator. You are running from one task to another; sometimes barely keeping up.

But, I want to challenge you. Do not get so lost in the paperwork that you forget the power your impact can have on your students and your co-workers.

Through your teaching, students should feel as though they can do anything they dream of. Yes, we guide students, we coach them, and sometimes we discipline them. But at the end of the day, do your students know that you love them? That you believe they can break barriers & accomplish milestones that no one before them as done? Do you speak that life into their minds? It can be as simple as telling the child you struggle to love that you missed him over the weekend. Telling the student who is years below grade level, that you know she can do it. And if you honestly don't believe that? Say it anyways. When we have a mindset that says, "my students can't do that" we limit their true ability. Have high expectations, push them farther than you think they can go, and always provide supports when necessary. I know a grown, successful woman who is an inspiration to many, who could not read in 3rd grade. She had to overcome more obstacles than most, but I am so glad she didn't give up. I am thankful for the adults who understood that a little girl who couldn't read was not the end of the story. This woman means very much to me, and I can't imagine not seeing her use her skills to empower students. Many of your students do not get this type of support, belief, and encouragement at home. So if you don't give it, who will?

I want to also address your relationship with your co-workers. Your grade level team is the closest to you. Are you sharing ideas with them? Are you collaborating together without fear of criticism? Are you intentionally building up teachers who struggle more than you do? A leader is not just the principal, or someone on the leadership team. Every single teacher should think of themselves as a leader and then reflect on how they can impact those around them. Do something each week to build the capacity of your team. Do something each week to build up a teacher who doesn't have it all together. And teams aren't perfect, I know this. You disagree, you teach differently, you think through standards differently. But are you intentionally pushing your team to use their various abilities for the betterment of the entire group? If you are a rock star of a teacher and you've got it all together; what good is it to not share your skills and abilities with others?

Imagine you leave your current school today. Will anything there be changed because of you? Will your students always have a strong sense of self-worth that you installed in them? Will your team be stronger because you insisted on cohesive collaboration? Will there be a void where you left? Or will life go on as if you were never there?

Are others better because of you?

Be honest with yourself, because, if no one will miss you or the impact you've made, there is still time.

There is still time to use your impact to ensure you are not the last teacher who will make your students feel empowered.

There is still time to use your impact to ensure you are choosing to empower other teachers, because when we empower others we grow ourselves.

"You may be the first to do many things, but make sure you are not the last".