Cowboy Confidence
From the desk of Alice…
So today is Throwback Thursday on social media. I love it. I love everything about seeing people’s snapshots of their lives prior to me meeting them or just reminding me of great memories.
As I look at my early years of teaching, I will tell you that I was far from Teacher of the Universe in my first few years. I made every mistake in the book and I am so thankful that there were not videos or camera phones to document any of it. I always tell people I am truly a recovering Bad Teacher and if I can improve, anyone can.
My first year was rough, at best. In my second year, I was fortunate enough to work with an incredible educator who not only was an excellent teacher, but also a great model for me outside the classroom. For example, she was skilled in conflict resolution in parent conferences (student teaching didn’t prepare me for those) and helped me sell a zillion Krispy Kreme doughnuts in order to help students pay for our team t-shirts. (We were the Pink Panthers…I was too ignorant to have kids pay before I placed the order- oopsy.)
As I progressed through the first 8 years of my career, somehow I landed with multiple people who helped me settle into teaching and love it. We encouraged each other across the day, gave honest feedback on issues, listened, cried a few tears and tried as hard as we could to keep students at the center of our decisions. Most of my time in the classroom was with academically at-risk students so emotions often ran high and since we worked with secondary students, we were the cliched “last best chance” at an education. We took that very seriously and I would not trade one minute of those days.
When I look back now, it seems like we were invincible. We were so ready to beat the odds and no one was going to tell us otherwise. Beaming with confidence and arrogance at what was possible, it’s as if we were some sort of cowboys in education.
The confidence it takes to walk into classrooms and change lives needs to be unwavering. It’s hard. I remember a few days of tears and thinking I really was better suited to work at McDonald’s than teach children. Had it not been for my fellow cowboys, I may have actually considered leaving. On the other hand, there were days to celebrate and there are things I took for granted that only now, 20+ years later can I really see the impact that was made.
We still need cowboys in education. We need people who are not willing to deal with the status quo and refuse to believe that things cannot improve. I have seen them in schools and in many districts and they are refreshing. Their calling card is their quiet confidence in what is possible.
If this describes you, then use your cowboy confidence for good. We need you to fight for students and families who don’t know how to fight for themselves. You have to be a voice at SIT Team meetings, parent conferences, and the PLC meetings. If you are so inclined, you can also educate your community and lawmakers.
Education is a tough, complex business and people get tangled up easily. Do NOT lose your focus on what is right for kids. Put on your boots and I think you know the rest. The kids need you.