My “Why” As An Educator
Comedian Michael Jr. famously said, “When you know your why, your what has more impact because you are walking in or towards your purpose.” I recently began my 14th year in education. As I begin each school year, I reflect on why I’m a principal and why I choose to be in education…
I still remember the day my wife and I walked our oldest child to the bus stop for her very first day of kindergarten. She's now in 6th grade, but that memory remains fresh. We walked with her to the end of our driveway, where she found her little pink bike and rode it the rest of the way to the bus stop. We were a bit nervous, wondering if she'd cry and cling to us, refuse to go, or just forget about us once she got on the bus. As the bus came closer, we hugged and kissed her, and she confidently climbed those big bus steps without a second thought. I can still see her little eyes peeking out of the bus window as she waved goodbye.
As my wife and I turned and walked back to our house, our eyes were both filled with tears (maybe even a little bit of “ugly” crying). That moment reminds me every day of why I am an educator. When we sent our daughter to kindergarten that day, we were handing over a big part of her life to a school for the next 13 years. It was a big step, and it left me feeling a bit helpless and out of control. As Jonathan Alsheimer says, “Never forget, you are teaching someone’s child - for that reason alone, you have one of the most valuable jobs in the world.” As we put our daughter on the school bus I remember thinking, “I want that school to do everything they can to take care of my daughter. I want her to feel safe, I want her to feel loved, I want her to have fun, I want her to feel connected. Please take care of my daughter. Every single day.”
As we put our daughter on the school bus I remember thinking, “I want that school to do everything they can to take care of my daughter. I want her to feel safe, I want her to feel loved, I want her to have fun, I want her to feel connected. Please take care of my daughter. Every single day.”
Families entrust their kids to schools - they send us their best each and every day. Every family’s best looks different, and it’s our job as educators to meet them “where they are” and walk alongside them.
Every family’s best looks different, and it’s our job as educators to meet them “where they are” and walk alongside them.
I feel truly fortunate to be a public school principal, and I want families to know that I am committed to taking care of their children every day. What a huge challenge but an even bigger opportunity for our schools - to take care of a family’s most precious possession - their children. It’s our job as educators to do everything we can to take care of every kid - keeping them safe, helping them know they are loved, and creating a fun and welcoming environment where they feel connected. Every. Single. Day.
It’s our job as educators to do everything we can to take care of every kid - keeping them safe, helping them know they are loved, and creating a fun and welcoming environment where they feel connected. Every. Single. Day.
Education isn’t easy, but it’s worth it.
What’s your “why?” Why do you choose to serve in education?
Keep fighting the good fight.
