There is never harm in
positively and authentically acknowledging the contributions the adults
in our schools make. Don’t wait for someone to leave your building to
appreciate them! Say good things about them now, right in front of them!
As former NBA player Jalen Rose has said in the past, “People will bring flowers to your
funeral but won’t bring you soup when you’re sick.” Don’t
wait for it to be too late to share a kind message. You will be amazed at
how simple, heartfelt words can improve relationships with your peers and
change the culture and environment for the entire school.
Here
is something to think about; why is the phrase, “You can’t be a prophet
in your own land” so prevalent in education? Why do we value the
expertise of those across the world more than we value the abilities of
those across the hallway? Do we feel that elevating others in our school
or organization some way diminish our work?
I
remember working with a teacher that I looked up to tremendously.
He was one of the hardest workers that I knew, not only in school but
outside of it as well. Not only was he a master-teacher in how he taught
and interacted with students, but he also ran a company outside of
education (totally unrelated) where he excelled at as well. I
learned so much from him as an educator, and I know that I was better off
because of his influence and mentorship.
I
left that school and didn’t talk to him much after, and then I had heard
that he had a sudden heart attack and passed away before he
retired. I was heartbroken as were the countless lives that found
out the same news when they heard of his passing.
I
think a lot about his influence on me as an educator, and to be honest, a
dad, even though I became a dad after he passed. I often shared
with him how much I appreciated his influence, but not to the extent that
it was deserved. I wish I could have shared that with him, and now I will
never get the chance. I do my best to share my appreciation with others,
and here is one thing that I have learned; I have never regretted sharing
a kind word or an authentic compliment to someone else, but I have
regretted not doing the same thing.
Teaching
is hard. Life is short. Don’t wait until it is too late to share
your appreciation with someone that has had an impact on you, your
school, or students.
We
would tell our students to do the same thing, and I am trying my best to
model it myself.
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