Zak's Weekly Musings (August 23, 2023)
This week, I found myself reflecting on my days as a student teacher at Buckingham, Browne, and Nichols, particularly on the influence of Jack Denny-Brown, my mentor teacher.
Jack was not your typical educator; he transcended conventional definitions of the role. Standing at 6’7” with wild white hair, a prominent walrus mustache, and donning rainbow suspenders daily, he was a sight to behold. However, his uniqueness wasn't limited to just his appearance. Jack was a fervent advocate for taking risks in his teaching. On a piece of tattered paper, adhered to his desktop computer with old Scotch tape, was a handwritten note that encapsulated his classroom ethos: "Take risks. If you fail, you learn. If you succeed, they learn."
It takes tremendous courage to take risks in the classroom. I mean, we don’t want to fail the students in front of us. We want to ensure that we are giving them our best. What I want to remind you of is that our best is rarely synonymous with the way we’ve done things before.
Jack often said, "Teaching is not about repetition but evolution." Watching him day after day in the classroom, I watched him bring these words to life. He challenged me to step outside my comfort zone, to constantly re-evaluate my teaching, and to embrace the unknown with optimism. Under his mentorship, I learned that real growth, both for the students and myself as an educator, comes from venturing into the unknown. Even when lessons didn't go as planned, Jack would chuckle, adjust his rainbow suspenders, and say, "Well, that's another way not to do it." The confidence and fearlessness with which he carried himself have left an indelible mark on my own educational philosophy; and, I hope in some small part, the culture of our Middle School.
As we move forward this week, let’s carry with us the spirit of Jack Denny-Brown. Let's take risks, embrace the learning that comes from both successes and setbacks, and continue to strive for something new and something better. After all, as Jack's note reminds us, when we learn, they learn.