“What is required of us now is a new era of responsibility — a recognition, on the part of every American, that we have duties to ourselves, our nation, and the world, duties that we do not grudgingly accept but rather seize gladly, firm in the knowledge that there is nothing so satisfying to the spirit, so defining of our character, than giving our all to a difficult task.”
When I heard President Obama express this in his inauguration speech, I couldn’t help but think how strongly this applies to teachers. For years teachers have accepted the responsibility of educating our children, not grudgingly, but with sincere passion. We know well the satisfaction of fulfilling a difficult task, don’t we? It’s one of the reasons we became teachers in the first place.
Now the stakes are even higher for our students. The economic downturn, the collapse of the real estate market and the ensuing foreclosures, has radically changed school demographics. In addition, budget cuts threaten to reduce resources even further on an already over-burdened educational system. Teachers find themselves faced with growing challenges and shrinking means to face them. Under such conditions, it could almost seem natural to resign ourselves to falling short of our own high standards, to giving in to the circumstances. If this did not mean quitting on our students.
For many students, the uncertain economy has translated into a home life that is tenuous at best. For them, school may offer the only sense of security they have. And the urgency of their education is greater than ever. So it’s important to remember that no one influences the school environment more than teachers. No matter what’s going on in the world, teachers set the tone for their classrooms. That’s why it’s so vital that in this time of crisis, teacher leaders step up and make a difference.
Being a teacher leader doesn’t mean that you know all the answers and can solve every difficulty that arises. It means that you feel empowered to positively impact your learning community come what may. In the midst of so much that could distract us, teacher leaders must help keep the focus on student learning. We need to continue to engage in the conversation about what our priorities are and how we can meet them. We need to be more vigilant than ever in our advocacy for education in Arizona.
At the Arizona K-12 Center, we take particular pride in nurturing teacher leaders because we know how vital you are. Now is not the time to feel dispirited, confused and devalued. No matter how difficult your circumstances may be, there’s always someone who’s got it worse. Now is the time to speak out for yourselves and your colleagues. We need to think about how we can support and boost one another. Being a teacher means making a difference. Now is a great time to exercise that responsibility.
