Leading While Teaching

In honor of  Teacher Appreciation Week, I wanted to thank some of the influential teachers in my life:
My 2nd grade teacher, Ms. Salzman, My 4th grade Art teacher, Mrs. Russell, who first nurtured me as an artist outside of my family's support. My 5th grade Art teachers (and later middle school): Mr. Tom Wyroba, Craig Kirk, and my lifelong Art mentor until she passed of breast cancer, Ms. Paraskevy Ralis. I'd also like to thank some of my high school teachers: My Honors English teacher, Mr. Cox, My Chemistry teacher, Mr. Smith, My AP Art teacher, Mr. Jackson, and my Economics teacher, Mrs. Lewis. Some of these teachers I was so horrible to, I actually went back to repent and find them to apologize face to face. That is what real leaders do (smile). It is no wonder I went into the teaching profession. I also have a racist teacher to thank as well (but that's for another blog). So, what has made these teachers stand out and stay with me, some 20-25 years later? What did they show forth that I try to demonstrate as a teacher? Not every teacher demonstrated all of these, but here are 10 qualities that made them stand out from the rest of my teachers:

1. They challenged me. Whether it was with an assignment, how I carried myself, how I spoke in their class, or the quality of my work, they challenged me to do better.

2. They were welcoming. In the eyes of these teachers, I was not just a number. I was an individual. I could question. Their door and ear was open. They counseled as well as taught. I never felt like I was a race or socio-economic demographic in their class, though I was bused in from (and lived in) one of the roughest neighborhoods at the time.

3. They did not play favorites. They had the same expectation of all their students. If they were biased, I could not tell. They were fair in their assessments and gave specific reasons for why they graded the way they did. There was no invisible calculation.

4. They took interest in me beyond the classroom. They sincerely cared how I was doing as a person, what extra activities I was involved in.

5. They demonstrated character in the classroom. I never saw these teachers ridicule, belittle a student, put a student on blast, or curse. I never saw or heard about them gossiping or spreading rumors about students. If they did not like a student, you didn't know it.

6. They knew their material and were active outside the classroom. All of my art teachers were amazing artists in their own right, and were not just teaching it, but getting it done, doing their own shows. I thought that showed their commitment to their field, and to staying current with their profession.

7. They encouraged me to pursue my dreams. I had wanted to be an architect since I was 9 years old. If God had not changed my course to teaching the arts, that is what I would be doing. My art mentor, Ms. Ralis, would allow me to visit her in the summer from college and work with her in the class, and speak with her students about college. It is an experience that I am still thankful for to this day.

8. They loved what they were doing and it showed. Every single one of these teachers taught with passion and enthusiasm. I absolutely despised Honors English. That is laughable now, because I am a writer and have developed a passion for English and communicating well. I was able to go back and thank my English teacher. He joked about how much I hated his class, and I was able to let him know that all that nagging paid off and all those rewrites and that I am now an author. He was not surprised.

9. They had no hidden agendas. The agenda was teaching. They were there to make sure we knew the material, understood it above average. They didn't try to persuade me on social issues. They didn't try to drop hints about their beliefs. You could have your own viewpoint and still pass the class. As a matter of fact, I can't remember any of these teachers giving their opinion, though they were open to class dialogue.

10. They believed that all students could succeed. Most students sought out these teachers, to be placed in their class. Why? They knew they had a shot at success with teachers that believed in them. I can't recall any student getting into serious trouble in class with them. If a student was skipping class, they could be found hiding in some of these classrooms. Sometimes it was a reprieve from a negative teacher. Because of their optimism, they were sought out.

Whenever I teach, I try to keep these principles in mind, especially when dealing with a difficult student. Some children have been so battered and beaten down by teachers who dislike the profession, show prejudice, are unconcerned, and don't know their material, that they don't want to see another teacher-ever. Why is the high school dropout rate soaring? Look at the ten principles above. Bring back effective teachers, and you'll see effective students emerge from the dust of what is passing for "teaching".

I challenge every teacher to consider the principles above. If you are going to remain a teacher, you owe it to your students to lead, and to lead them to a place of success, not despair. They will return to thank you! I am proof of that.