Early in my career, I worked next to this much older teacher that scared the hell out of me.  He wore a tie and a white, short-sleeved shirt every day.  In the winter he would keep a window in his room open at all times to kill off germs and keep his students awake.  I don't know where you teach, but it gets VERY cold up here in Michigan.  He was the type of teacher that kept every lesson plan in a neat file folder that he would pull out and follow year-after-year.  He seemed to be a no nonsense, gruff teacher -- exactly what I was trying not to be.

However, what always baffled me was how loved he seemed to be by his students.  He was someone they loved and looked up to.  He was teaching some of his former students' kids, and he always had many former students (many adults) still coming back to visit him.  I couldn't figure him out!!

This was a teacher I feared and thought had nothing to teach me as a newbie to the profession.  Well, he ended up teaching me two of the most important lessons I needed to learn -- not only as a teacher -- but as an adult.

One day at recess, a rare occurrence took place.  We were actually standing by each other watching the kids play outside.  Usually, if I saw him headed my way I would take off the other way.  Some how he snuck up on me.  As we stood there in silence, he suddenly mumbled something very prophetic.  At first, I thought he was just clearing his throat.  Then, I realized he was actually talking.  I wasn't sure if he was talking to me or not at first because he wasn't even looking at me.  He kept his focus on the kids.  This is what he said.....

"Have you told them you care?"

"Excuse me?"  I reply.

"Have you told them you care?"  He says much more gruffly.  "Have you told your students you care about them?"

"I'm sure they know I care."  I say trying to defend myself.  "I joke with them; I give them fun projects to do.  I tell them about my life.  I even bring treats in once in a while for them.  Yeah, I'm sure they know I care about them."

"No,No,No!"  He snaps back.  "Don't ASSUME they know you care!  What's the first three letters of ASSume?  You have to TELL them you care!! ... (Long uncomfortable silence)  He continues... "TELL them you care about them.  It will make all the difference in the world."

And just like that, the conversation was over.

I must admit I couldn't ever remember a teacher of mine taking the time to tell me they cared about me -- unless they were saying it as they were pulling me by the ear to the principal's office.  Seriously, I can't ever remember ONE teacher actually saying it in a CARING way. 

Even though I didn't expect much, I thought I would try it.  I told the kids that I cared for them and told them why I care for them.  I told them that my success as a teacher was based on their success.  The better they do, the better I must have done.  I told them it has nothing to do with money because I get paid no more or less based on their performance.  I told them that I am one of their biggest cheerleaders because my success is based on their success.  I told them that the better they do the more pride I have for being a "good" teacher.  I also explained that we are a team working together to have our Best Year Ever!  Working together as a team and caring for each other will make us a winning team!  I told them as the leader of the team, I will work to model the way when it comes to caring.  I told them that when I make a mistake with my words or actions I will apologize and work to not repeat my mistakes.  Finally, I told them I would always care about them even after the school year because we will always share in a special memory --  having shared in a Best Year Ever!

I can't tell you what a difference this had made in my teaching!! Now, I start every year off on the very first day telling my students that I care about them.  I tell them the first day and every day until they really start to see and believe it!  Then, I tell them some more so they never forget.

This has been one of the greatest lessons I have learned as a teacher!  Oh, by the way, the second lesson this great teacher taught me is to 'never judge a book by its cover' -- even if they wear short sleeve shirts and keep their windows open in the winter.

Here's to your Best Year Ever!  Make it Happen!

I recently had the great fortune of serving the position as Michigan Teacher of the Year (MTOY).   Believe me; it was not because I was the “top” teacher in the state.  I know that for several reasons.  Number one: I am married to a top teacher in the state.  My wife is an awesome teacher who is adored by her students and their parents.  Number two:  I work in a 5/6 building with about ten 5^th and ten 6^th grade classrooms.  In MY building there are several people I work with that I am still aspiring to teach at their level.  They are top teachers!  Number three:  While serving the position as MTOY, I visited with hundreds – if not thousands – of teachers around MI.  I was amazed at the number of truly outstanding teachers we are blessed to have teaching in our schools.  They are all top teachers!

I was named MTOY because someone took the time to nominate me, and I decided to go through the process to become MTOY.  The reason I wanted to apply for the position is that I was hoping to spread a message to as many involved in Education as possible that “Now is a Great Time to be Involved in Education.”  I used the theme from the book The Tipping Point (written by Malcolm Gladwell) that “We have the power to start an epidemic” to help guide my year.  Let me explain.

In 2003, I was reading an article in an NEA Magazine about all the problems we are facing in Education.  They were painting a pretty gloomy picture.  In fact, they described our situation as “The Perfect Storm.”  I agree that we face many challenges in Education right now – even more so than in 2003.  However, I believe there is a ton more good going on in Education than bad – a TON more good!

Unfortunately, that doesn’t make great headlines and reading/viewing in the media.  Their motto seems to be “If it bleeds it leads!”  And, we are human and do bleed once in a while.  That is what makes the news much more often than all the good things going on in our schools.

We involved in Education have allowed too many politicians and the media to define who we are to the public.  Unfortunately, many believe only what they hear and not what is really going on.  Yes, we have room to improve.  However, it is my belief that we have a lot to celebrate as we work to build off the good things we are already doing.  This negative perspective may help some get elected to office and may help sell more newspapers and increase ratings, but it is also creating a negative perception in the public’s eyes.  Thus, many in our profession are feeling beaten up and beaten down.  Some are drowning in what I call the “Sea of Despair.”

As MTOY, I wanted to help spread an epidemic of hope and determination throughout MI that we can – and we will – conquer the many challenges we face.  In my classroom I must get them to believe in me as their leader, and more importantly, I must get them to believe in themselves.  The same is true with the adults involved in Education.  We must first believe we can (and will) achieve before we will be able to solve many of the challenges we face.

We must believe we can achieve!  Even if we don’t know exactly how we will get the job done, we must first believe we can do it.  The “how to” will come to us once we firmly believe we can achieve!  This reminds me of a great quote from the movie Miracle about the 1980 U.S. Olympic Hockey Team.  Herb Brooks (the coach of the team) is talking to his players before their big match-up with the Soviet team that had already killed them in an exhibition game and also had beaten the NHL All-Star team earlier that year.  He said to his players, “Great Moments Come from Great Opportunities!”  Without spoiling the end of the movie, they went on to upset the Russian tam and later went on to win the gold!  Somehow, Herb Brooks got his team to believe they could achieve – even when it looked like they were about to sail into their own “perfect storm.” 

We have a great opportunity to create a great moment in Education that people will be talking about for years to come.  First, we too, have to believe.  Instead of looking at all we face as “challenges,” Maybe it is time to start looking at them as “opportunities.”

Now that I am back teaching in my classroom full time, I am still trying to spread this epidemic of hope and determination that we can and will achieve.  However, I don’t get out as much to speak.  I am hoping that you will help me spread this epidemic of hope and determination to those around you and that they will help infect others with their enthusiasm and faith as well.  I will write more on this throughout the year, and I look forward to your comments.  More importantly, I am looking forward to your help!

We can do this!  We CAN do this!  We HAVE to do this!