Keep holding fast to what is important.

I am now, after 21 years, "that" teacher who has seen countless fads be the Next Great Thing in education, only to disappear in two years.  It's happening again.

I'll not name our Next Great Thing here, so that you may fill in that blank with whatever "it" is in your own district.

In addition to this unnamed fad (which will of course make more work!), there's the ever-present "tyranny of the urgent" over what is deeply important.

So, here, a little reminder from Gen. Omar Bradley:

"We need to learn to set our course by the stars, not by the lights of every passing ship."


Colleague, keep holding true to what is truly important, as best you can.

Love now! Miracles await!

"Let God's Holy Spirit breathe new life into you, and then let that love uplift you and uplift your students! Hurry! Classroom miracles await!"  

~ Wendy Byard,

in Teach and Reach for Classroom Miracles 

You can help someone discover inner riches.

"The greatest good you can do for another is not just to share your riches, but to reveal to him his own.

~ Disraeli

You should be paid more . . .

. . . in order to attract the best and brightest to our field. This op-ed from the Times explains why it wouldn't just be nice for me and you, but a good idea.

wonderful NY Times essay on the value of teachers

Many people value what you do. Read the thoughts of one such writer here.