Epidemic in Education!

I had the great fortune of serving the position as Michigan Teacher of the Year (MTOY) in 2003-2004. 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 team 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!