I’ve always liked this quote from Simon Sinek and I truly saw this in action as we prepared for school this year. I can’t think of a job where people would voluntarily come in on their own time to set up their work areas several days, weeks, or more before their start day. Yet, that is what I saw last month as teachers came in to organize, decorate, and design learning spaces for their incoming students. Through my office window, I saw teachers walking in carrying bags, boxes, and carts filled with teaching materials. They didn’t have looks of drudgery on their faces, instead they were smiling, greeting one another, and were truly excited to get back to start a new school year. Someone outside of education would probably look at that as bizarre behavior! Who comes in days or weeks early to work?
This phenomenon wasn’t just observed at the school. For the past several weeks, I’ve been running into teachers at the store and overhearing their excited conversations about deals they were getting on materials for their classrooms and students. Just this weekend, I listened as an excited teacher was telling her friend about the themes that she was incorporating in her classroom and what good deals she had gotten on supplies. Now, keep in mind that however great the deals were, this teacher was spending her own money on her classroom. An anomaly? Not at all. Every teacher I have ever met, spends hundreds of dollars (or more) each year on supplies for their classroom. Again, someone outside of education would look at this as absurd behavior! Who spends their own money on supplies and materials for their work?
The answer to both those questions is quite simply, teachers! Now I understand that some years we need to come in earlier due to changes in assignments and some years we spend more money on our classrooms than others. But the truth is, educators look at this as the norm and not the exception. Why? Because we are doing this out of passion for our calling to be educators. Passionate educators can change the world, but more importantly, they can change a single life for the better. Thank you to all the passionate educators I work with and all those that go above and beyond not because it’s what you do, but because it’s who you are!
“Passion is energy. Feel the power that comes from focusing on what excites you.” – Oprah Winfrey
“Nothing great in the world has ever been accomplished without passion.” – George Hegel
“Great teachers emanate out of knowledge, passion, and compassion.” – A.P.J. Abdul Kalam
- Monday, September 11: Celebrate Monday Assembly 9:05 AM, iReady Window Opens for Grades 1-4, Book Fair Opens
- Tuesday, September 12: Achievement Team (Adams) 8:15 AM
- Wednesday, September 13: Elementary Principals Meeting 1:00-4:30 PM
- Thursday, September 14: No Staff Meeting, Open House/Curriculum Night 6:00-7:30 PM
- Friday, September 15: Kindergarten Data due in Illuminate, Bill Roberts from AXA in the lounge for interested teachers 8:00-9:00 AM, 504 Meeting (Benson) 9:50 AM
- Monday, September 18: Celebrate Monday Assembly 9:05 AM, Constitution Day Recognized
- Tuesday, September 19: REED (Edwards & Ringler) 8:15 AM
- Thursday, September 21: Building PD 7:50-8:50 AM, Jon to Central Office for ABC Meeting 1:30-3:00 PM, PTA Meeting 7:00 PM
- Friday, September 22: Self Assessment for 5D due in Pivot
The Spark of Learning 