Merchants of Hope

This post is dedicated to Crystal Kuykendall.  A few years ago, I attended a Solution Tree Summit in Arizona. At this incredible event, I saw Crystal Kuykendall, a dynamic and inspirational keynote speaker. See a clip of her here: Crystal at Solution Tree 2009 via YouTube. During her presentation, she used the term 'merchants of hope' to describe educators.  You will see a sweatshirt in the video with this phrase. She enthusiastically instilled in the audience of 1100, that as educators, we are all 'merchants of hope'.  This phrase hit me like a lightening bolt.  Too often as educators, we underestimate and sometimes ignore the power of our influence. Like Haim Ginott once said, we can be a tool of torture or an instrument of inspiration.  I spoke with Ms. Kuykendall and asked permission to use the phrase she coined so eloquently and I have been using it ever since.  It's actually words I try to live by. Imagine the possibilities when we believe we have the power to instill hope in our students.  Especially, those students that need it the most. In this most noble of professions, it is too easy to get caught up in the negativity.  Eric Sheninger wrote in his article, Passion Driven Reform that those educators driven by passion, the 'merchants of hope', "love working with children, will do what it takes to do the job right, never fall victim to the bitterness that is found in all schools, and are committed to continual improvement."  Eric and I know and believe this is not always easy. However, changing the world is hard work and can be laced with disappointment. You will never know your impact if don't believe in the power of potential: your own and your students.  So, as you continue to lead students; regardless of your title, think about the power of being a 'merchant of hope'.  Most importantly, believe in your own ability to:

1. Teach the unteachable
2. Reach the unreachable
3. Create miracle moments by being 'Merchants of Hope' for the hopeless