One Changing One!

At our faculty meeting this past Tuesday, we had a conversation regarding new information we received regarding SGPs and the effect on teacher evaluation. After providing the facts as I understood them, I wanted to relate student achievement to Danielson's Domain 2a: Creating an Environment of Respect and Rapport.  Danielson states, for a teacher to receive a distinguished mark in this domain: 

Classroom interactions among the teacher and individual students are highly respectful, reflecting genuine warmth and caring and sensitivity to students as individuals.  

I pointed out:

• Notice the descriptor ends with "as individuals", not at students. Our students come to us with different types and amounts of emotional baggage. They are all kids, but they are not all the same.
• Students who feel valued are more likely to meet behavioral expectations
• Students who meet behavioral expectations are more likely to work towards academic expectations

We can be the greatest masters of our content, but if we don't know how to reach our students and provide hope, then what is the true worth of that knowledge. To drive this point home, I shared a video from Erin Gruwell (Freedom Writers) from when she presented a Tedx talk from Conejo, California. See video here before going on(it's 18 minutes, but worth it):

If you watched the video, you heard Ms. Gruwell talk about Maria. In the video, Ms. Gruwell get's choked up, when talking about making an assumption regarding Maria and then states, "The last thing I want to do is take away hope from my students." 

I shared with our staff, the greatest power we have as educators (regardless of title) is to instill hope in our students. If you read my previous blog (http://cradisch.blogspot.com/2013/03/merchants-of-hope.html) you know that I feel educators serve as Merchants of Hope. Each day we have the incredible power to change and even save lives.

My presentation for staff today was named One Changing One. Imagine if each of us reached out to one student and became the agent of change in that student's life: One Changing One! In our building, that would impact about 100 students. How many students would be impacted in your building? It may not make the difference between partially proficient and proficient on a state test, but it could make the difference between success and failure in life. It could make the difference between giving up or giving it a try. Educators who don't see this as their role are usually the ones with the most problems and tend to be the most miserable. I am not suggesting this is easy, not in the least. However, if you believe in the power of potential, both yours and your students, it can be done. The same way Ms. "G" did for Maria.

I asked my staff this and now I will ask you: Who is your Maria? What will you do next?