This past Friday (May 9, 2014) was one of the most enjoyable, open, honest, caring, warm, and productive professional development experiences of my career, and I want to start by thanking the District 99 Literacy Coaching Team (Dana Briggs, Jennifer Hernandez, Barb Mazzolini, Kathleen Skinner, Kathy Smith, Elaine Simos, Amy Stoops, and Marjorie Thomas) for allowing me to be a part of this special day. Each and every one of you helped make me a better teacher, leader, and coach through your open and honest dialogue.
You see, the literacy coaching program in District 99 is well-established, has presented on multiple occasions at several local and national conventions, and is staffed by eight brilliant and well-seasoned coaches. As such, each coach could easily rest on her laurels, close the door and do her thing, and work in isolation all the while continuing to provide high-level literacy coaching to the district. In fact, that is, sadly, how so much of education currently functions; however, that was no the case on May 9th. Each coach was asked to come prepared to share a major challenge/struggle from the year with the rest of the team. I don't know about you, but I have been in education for ten years now, and I have never been asked to admit my struggles in front of a room of brilliant and successful peers, not to mention my direct supervisors. And yet...that is exactly what we were asking them to do, and they did it with grace, compassion, and skill.
What resulted was a two-hour session (and a lunch afterwards) in which, in small groups, the literacy coaches shared their struggles with coaching and then processed them with their peers, looking for support and help. The conversations were real, raw, honest, and pointed. On many occasions phrases like "so, I am not really sure what to do" or "I could really use some help" were expressed openly and without fear of judgment. Furthermore, coaches could be heard saying, "oh I LOVE that idea; that will really work here", or "thank you! I hadn't thought of that; I cannot wait to try it."
So, what did I learn as a result of all this. Well, let me share:
1. If these eight, amazing, talented, and skilled coaches could open up and admit that they could use help, can't we all? Ask yourself, with what do I need help and then go seek it out; it will only make you better!
2. Greatness requires two things: failure and risk-taking. Without these, one cannot become great. I am blessed to work with coaches who embrace both.
3. Schools MUST find the time to allow teachers to have these sorts of conversations. I understand that it is a two-way street in that teachers have to feel safe and want to share in these sorts of conversations. However, if schools don't carve out the time for these conversations to happen, they never will, and genuine opportunities for authentic growth will be lost.
4. Trust and honesty take time and building them is hard work; however, it is well worth it. You see, this sort of open sharing of challenges did not just happen over night. In fact, this District 99 Literacy Coaching Team had been meeting for two years before having these sorts of conversations. That said, it was two years of team-building that was well worth it.
5. Difficult conversations about challenges and areas for growth can be fun. What made this day so special was that these conversations were filled with laughter and smiles all while being focused, open, honest, and challenging. In short, we had fun and grew personally and professionally; not a bad way to spend a Friday in May.
So, regardless of your role in education ask yourself, when was the last time you said, "I need help?" As the literacy coached proved, it is much more a sign of strength than it is of weakness.
