Zak's Weekly Musings (August 16, 2023)

Over the past week, as I've engaged with students about courage, I’ve been thinking a lot about what it means to be a courageous educator. Courage isn't defined only by grand gestures. It's found in the silent moments, everyday decisions, and our unwavering commitment to growth and change.

Although there's plenty of research suggesting best educational practices, exceptional teaching isn't solely rooted in mastering the latest literature; it's anchored in courage. The divide between good and great educators isn't just knowledge but the bravery to question and innovate. 

The educators who stand out are the courageous ones. 

The simple fact, whether you choose to accept it or not, is that our profession will continue to change...in some ways faster than we are comfortable keeping up with it. I hate to bear this news, but these are not the times to stand still and be comfortable. We all need to have the courage to feel okay with feeling uncomfortable. The courage to teach is still very much about Parker Palmer's message of tapping into the soul of our profession and the joy and inspiration we find when we give ourselves fully to it. 

However, in this era, the courage to teach also means that we all have the courage to learn – new things, new conventions, and new understandings about how our students best learn, and when, where, and with whom. Without us having the courage to open our mind and learn, having the courage to challenge, having the courage to innovate, and having the courage to feel okay with failure when you try something new, we will never truly have the "courage to teach" as it is needed now.

Remember, our students are always watching. Their perception of courage is shaped by how we display it. If we want to inspire them, we must embody the courage we wish to see. This is our call to action: to demonstrate bravery and guide our students by example.