Give It Away

My wife is the best person that I know.  She stole my heart in 1976 and I have no intention of asking for it back. I am totally smitten – there it is, up front.  She introduced me to the classic Christmas film, “It’s a Wonderful Life” over three decades ago and it has been our family tradition to watch it together every Christmas Eve. It is a basic parable that sets up a confrontation between good and evil with one hero and one villain.  The story is really about doing what is right and avoiding what is wrong (you may have heard that a few times out of my mouth).  George Bailey, played by Jimmy Stewart, is a man who has given up many of his own dreams for the sake of others throughout his entire life.  When he reaches a seemingly hopeless point, he decides to take his own life.  That is, until his guardian angel, Clarence, rescues him by showing George what the lives of others would be like if he was never born.  The multitude of people that he positively affected is related to him in very vivid ways.  In his “shabby little office” hangs a sign that reads, “All that you can take with you is that which you have given away.” That is the moral of the story– how kindness to others reflects back to the giver in ways beyond their scope.  I will watch it again this December 24^th with that same beautiful girl that I have the privilege of being married to.  She makes mine a wonderful life.  She also makes the lives of patients, friends, and total strangers better through her time, talents, and treasures.  Like George Bailey, she is constantly giving of herself for the sake of others. 

Teaching is often about giving away.  You give of yourself in time and talents.   You give away your knowledge to students by sharing it with them.  Like a candle, we are not to hide it under a bushel so that its light will not be seen.  Teaching is about pouring yourself out then remembering to get filled again.  Teaching is often walking out the door at the end of the day exhausted and then getting refreshed to do it all over the next day.  Teaching is about seeing the potential in someone else and helping them reach it.  Teaching is being diagnostic and prescriptive to the needs to kids.  Teaching is about wearing many different hats; whether as teacher, counselor, parent, grandparent, motivator, or coach.  Wherever you fit in this continuum called education, you are called to continually give of yourself. You have a chance to make an incredible mark in the lives of a whole bunch of kids.  Make the most of every opportunity.  Leave a legacy of making a difference.  Give it away – that is what you will take with you.

Coaching/Teaching

Teaching is not too dissimilar from coaching.  I believe they go hand in hand.  I was fortunate enough to have done both concurrently  during my 21 years before I was called to move to administration. It was an honor to coach some great young men and young ladies who were state champions, state finalists, an NFL player, and many more who improved a great deal from where they started.  I enjoy being referred to as “Coach”; there is something special about title.  Great coaches know their team’s strengths and weaknesses. Great coaches understand what a winning team looks like and have a vision of how to get there.  Great coaches adjust their strategy to the needs of the team.  They build the entire team up because they know that making each athlete stronger only helps the team.  Great coaches set priorities as well as goals and find ways to measure their progress toward them.  Great coaches teach about attitude and lead by example while finding ways to inspire their team. Great coaches want to always get better and stay in touch with the latest information on their sport.  They make the most of every opportunity.

Great teachers know what the winning looks like – they understand the desired outcomes, they have the vision.  Great teachers adjust their strategies based on data and what the individual needs of their students.  Great teachers work hard to reach all of their kids.  Great teachers set goals and help their students set goals and then measure progress along the way toward them.  Great teachers lead by example by expecting great things from themselves and that mindset is absorbed by their students.  Great teachers inspire their students through their actions and by finding out what makes their kids tick. Great teachers are always looking to get better and keep up on current models and best practices.  They make the most of every opportunity.