Happy Teacher Appreciation WeekAs the Alumni Facebook feed popped cheerfully upon my wall and I saw "one bulldog, one bark" in a post, I thought about the catchphrase's value and meaningfulness in our school culture. What a really amazing week it has been with you guys in terms of hearing our one bark and being in Bulldog Nation. As we were sitting in our teacher's roundtable listening to your "whys" behind teaching, "whys" behind our school, it occured to me that in reality, we are all on such similar pages. We are all barking the same song despite the fact our pitches and tones may be varied. In fact, some of us were called from a young age to be a teacher, while others of us found the path as a second career. Some of us knew right away in college that we were intended to raise up a generation of students, while for others of us, we took a more winded path to our calling. But regardless of how we were called, the point is that we are here together, and what we hear from all of you is this: "I am here because I love these students and I want to give them something beyond the classroom to help them succeed in their life; I am here because I want to make meaningful change in the life of someone besides myself; I am here because I want to show them that I made it, and there is something more to life for them. And in this one vision, we are Team Beach. And in this one vision, we are educators, driven to serve others with everything that we have as one bulldog, and one bark. But despite the fact we may have the same why, and we may have the same voice, we are all simply by nature different people in and of ourselves. Some of us, from loud and boisterous families (Italian, in my case) bring that to the table. Some of us are from more quiet places and an introverted nature lies within us. Others of us bring a cultural perspective from a completely different part of the country, while many of us are Savannah natives. Some bring their own eccentricities to the school while some bring firm mindsets. Some of us handle class management with a more conversational, collaborative approach while others believe in a more strict parenting approach. But when we look at the ways in which we are so very different, we must never see our different as necessarily wrong. Instead, we must ask ourselves and one another: Is my vision true to my "why"? Is my vision working for the kids? And if it is not, how must it change? I look around, and I'll be honest. I am overwhelmed by the, phenomenal love of our faculty and staff. I am thrilled by the way in which we do view one another as a team and family. I am exhilarated as I watch you "do your thing" in your classroom to work with students, and as we listened to your ideas at the roundtable, I think each of us were so impressed that even though you are exhausted of giving so very much of yourself, you are still willing to give more in order that our students may prosper. We see you going beyond, coaching a student through a college application. We notice the absolute passion you have for those on your caseload, and the tutorials you hold after school more than just one day. We notice you getting out of your comfort zone, teaching others' kids, so that they may have the best chance possible of learning as much as possible. We notice that light on in the school as we go home to my family, yet you stay and work to create a beautiful event. We see the 32.5 perfectly sharpened pencils in box. The 32.5 students waiting to receive your counsel. The 32.5 drawings from your students that you have shared with us in the hall. The 32.5 reports or documentation pieces you've filed to keep our school moving. Whoever you are, and whatever you do, there is beauty in your passion. And even when it is different than someone else's, it still shines as brightly as theirs, even if the jewel is not exactly the same. And even when we cannot understand one another, we can appreciate even in these times and speak as one bark, one voice Because of you, our students have food to eat that warms the spirit and the soul. Because of you, our building communicates the regal nature of our bulldogs, clean and tidy. Because of you, kids know there is someone waiting there for them each and every single day that loves them and finds meaning in them, even when it is hard for them to find it in themselves. Because of you, kids have jobs, and parents can leave their children with special needs in the hands of a person they trust fully to love them just as much as they do. Because of you, student deficit is decreased, student learning is made meaningful, and students learn to find their passion and a place where they can use it in life. Because of you, students learn how to read and write for the real world, and form relationships that push them to succeed beyond the four walls of a building. Because of you, our students have more father figures, mother figures, aunties, uncles. Because of you, another person prospers and feels the strongest human emotion of belonging and love. Maybe such a perspective seems over-the-top cheery, but even in the hard days, the meaningfulness of what we do is absolutely priceless and worthy of celebration. Conflict at times will always exist because we are all human beings with our own passions. But what we are doing is meaningful work, building bonds with our students, parents, and each other. What we are doing matters, and I suspect we each go to bed at night, absolutely exhausted, but with visions of improvement dancing in our minds. Our school is interwoven in who we are, and perhaps that is the beauty of the Bulldog tradition. Perhaps it is the reality, that even though we are from different places, when you become a bulldog, you always remain a bulldog; no matter how your roots are woven into the foundation, you are regarded as fully-grafted into the family. But regardless of what we do and the ways we do it, we must never lose sight of our why, the students. And when it comes down to a situation that really seems insolvable, perhaps then we should pull out the game-changer...and ask, what aligns most with preparing students to succeed beyond our school walls? And perhaps we must ask ourselves: do they know someone is in their corner, cheering for them to find their purpose in life and helping them to find the self-confidence to achieve it as positivity lights their path? If we are speaking with one voice, that voice that is pro-students in all situations, we are most surely one bulldog and strong enough to face any opposition that may attempt to thwart us. Happy Teacher Appreciation Day! You ALL ROCK!
1 Comment
5/11/2017 12:03:14 am
Love all you do Lauren Evans for the students at A.E. Beach HS. Your positive attitude is infectious. Keep up the good work! Can't wait to work with you next year, as well!! :)
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