On That Day...

During Summer 2018 I had two interviews.

Job interview #1 was for the newly established position of Master Teacher.
Job interview #2 was for the familiar favorite position of Assistant Principal.

For the Master Teacher position, you would be asked to support teachers during one part of the school day, and teach during the other half of the school day.

For the Assistant Principal position, you are responsible for supporting the principal as they promote their vision for the school community.

Two positions built on support.

I attended the Master Teacher eligibility pool interview first, bringing my laptop to present a sample grade-level training session for the panel. I was so excited and animated...almost floating above my seat as I discussed how I would work with my colleagues. On the way home, I secretly hoped I wasn't too excited.

The following week  I attended the Assistant Principal interview, happy to get another shot at (hopefully) being added to the eligibility pool and then selected by a Principal. I answered every question to the best of my ability and drove home smiling...until I started second-guessing all of my answers to the questions presented to me. Wow.

What I love and appreciate about my relationship with God as a 41 year-old is that I know when to accept His plan, knowing that He always knows best.

Although we want what we want...and adding certain titles certainly look good on our social media profiles, God knows what route/plan/position will bring blessings to our lives so we can bless others.

The school year in Detroit officially began Tuesday, September 4, 2018.

On that day, I woke up smiling and very excited as I drove to a new opportunity.

On that day, I began my journey as a Grade 5 ELA Teacher / Master Teacher.

PS:  It's written like that on my email signature and alerts my colleagues that I can both relate to any classroom frustrations they may have (because I'm in the thick of it as well) and offer instructional support...not as a "Know-It-All" but as a Co-Thinker.

As I navigate the 2018-19 school year,  my goal is to #EnjoyTheJourney , looking forward to many days filled with opportunities to continue growing as an educator. It's going to be very interesting.

In fact, it already is :)

Taking a break from writing...

It has been awhile since I have blogged anything...
Busy doing the teaching thing I guess...
In fact I have more blog post titles written down than actual blog posts...

Hmmm...

Anyway, feel free to browse a few of my thoughts from the past

As always, thanks :)

#speakLife

Let me pull the curtain back for a minute:

In 16 years of serving as an educator, I will admit that I haven't been perfect

In fact, I often run the tape over and over again daily
to reflect on what I did and didn't do right in my classes
and how I have improved over the years (Detroit's Wayne State University taught me that)

Quick Example:
Teaching elementary grades then making the switch to middle school was not for the faint of heart
and I know Jesus probably wanted to change his name by each school year's end
but by God's grace I made it through

I managed, differentiated, and frameworked to the best of my ability

All that.

And of course you want the scores to skyrocket, but I did see small leaps
And smiles

You hope that what you do is enough
but sometimes
it's not

You just can't "get it" like that teacher over there

The one with the perfect class
Perfect lines going down the hallway
cotton-ball quiet classroom
Every component of the latest instructional framework
being brought to life
every day

Hmm.

On the other hand (there's always that other hand)
there are some teachers
that will probably never get recognized for anything
except having "That Class Down the Hall"

Hmm.

If this is you
please don't put your head in the oven

No, not yet

There's still hope for you!

You see, so many teachers are right on the bubble of being That Great Teacher

They just need a bit of support

"Support?  We support them every year", the School Leader says

Well...support them some more

In fact, support them until you can see and they can feel the training wheels come off.

It is my growing belief that teachers were not meant to "get it right" the first year
or the second
or the ninth

I think God crafted the teaching profession so that those involved
have to constantly reflect and refine their practice
becoming lifelong learners in the process

Think about it

The 2017-2018 School Year is rapidly approaching
or has already started for some

Coming back to the building are those Perfect-Super Star Teachers

Coming back to the building are those Willing Workers who could benefit from "a little extra"

Coming back to the building are some teachers who neither could be labeled
Perfect-Super Star
or
Willing Worker

These are your
"I Might Act Like I Don't Care About the Work, But I Really Do so Don't Forget About Me"
teachers

These are your "Remember Me" teachers who need "extra extra"

Hmm.

In times like these, we need to hold on to as many individuals as possible
who sincerely have a desire to work with the youth and families of our schools

And yes, there are some that probably should just change careers...

...but before you help them pack
make sure that you have a conversation with them
based on listening and thoughtful, non-judgmental responses

Your words just might make the difference in helping them becoming That Great Teacher

#speakLife

Looking at Education from A to Z: Acceptance

Title: Students' Sense of Belonging at School Is Important. It Starts With Teachers

Source: Blad, Evie. "Students' Sense of Belonging at School Is Important. It Starts With Teachers." Education Week, 21 June 2017, p. 8. Academic OneFile, go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?

3 Discoveries
if a student feels they belong and have a place in the school enviroment, the more likely the will participate in the learning process there are educators who struggle with ways to ensure that students feel like they have a sense of belonging in their classrooms (based on disabilities, status, gender, race/ethnicity, etc.) a student is more likely to become disengaged if they do not feel that they belong in the current school environment, due to lack of diversity in curriculum, dress codes that go against various cultures, etc.

2 Ideas of Interest
it is recommended that teachers begin to focus on the individual strenghts of students in an effort to shut down stereotypes that students may have about others
school-community partnerships is an additional way to begin to support students who feel ostracized

1 Goal for me as an educator after reading this article is to... be more aware of students who may not see themselves presented in the curriculum and make every effort to get to know my students so I can have materials that better reflect the cultrues that they bring with them

When June Showed Up (6.22.2017)

When June showed up
there was cause
to pause and reflect on
another year of service to
the youth of our city and their families

I also paused to consider that
How we all looked in late August
And early September was often not the same as how we looked when June showed up

Whether it was students who moved
Students who arrived
Staff going away for awhile
Staff coming back
In some cases there was a noticeable difference

I am not afraid to thank God for June
I just happen to be in a profession that, if you want to, you can rest for awhile in the Summer

Rest one's mind and body

So important

At the same time I am not totally
disconnected from Education
In fact there are daily changes in my own district that I am monitoring via the news in order to better prepare myself for late August and early September

Until then, I pray for a Summer of rest, relaxation and self care for my colleagues and their families.

I pray for a safe and trauma-free summer for the youth and their families as well.

I pray for God's covering and protection for all of us.

June is now preparing its exit.
July is on its way.
August and September are not too far behind.

Bent not Broken (5.25.2017)

There's some young trees on the playfield of my school.
The trees are leaning to one side.
Bent...but not broken.

There are some teachers I know.
Too many to name.
The end of year testing cycle is almost complete.
It's evaluation time as well.
My colleagues are weary & worn.
They are bent...but not broken.

Today is Thursday, May 25,2017.
For reasons I'm not quite sure about, it's been a bit rough this week.
One night, I went to bed around 7:30pm.
The tv and cell phone were both shut off for that particular evening.
My mind needed to just stop.
My body needed to rest.

Tomorrow is Friday, May 26,2017.
I'm still here...looking forward.
God has blessed myself and other educators with so much grit & resilience that if you bottled it the product would sell out worldwide.

I'm thankful tonight for that grit & resilience.
Bent? Oh yes.
Broken? No. Not broken.

Something to be Proud Of (Proud Michigan Educator Campaign)

I am a Detroit, Michigan educator.

I could get specific and give you the exact private-public-or-charter label,

district/school name, and classroom number...but I won't.

Instead, when I say that I am a Detroit educator, do you instantly pity me or are you intrigued?

Pity me because of the data, the articles, the rumors and realities?

Intrigued because you secretly want to know what it takes to be a Detroit educator?

Hmmm....

I don't need your pity, but keep me on your prayer list instead because it takes a whole lot to be a Detroit educator. 

Even more intrigued?

Well it's no secret that Detroit educators are tough folk. We have to be in order to handle the task set before us. Many Detroit educators have to peel back layer after layer of trauma-filled experiences held inside some of our students just to make room to pour in the academic content needed to not only succeed on an assessment, but in life overall,with the expectation that they will make a positive impact on their neighborhood, city, state, country, and the world.

Detroit educators are doers and givers. We often do the hard things to ensure that students and in some cases their families know that there is someone out there who cares before,during,and after school. We give our blood, sweat, and tears every single day. 

Some even give more than that.

Lastly, Detroit educators want others to know that their students are intelligent and inspiring.

Resilient and remarkable.

Lovable and loved.

Now, there are many other acts,deeds,and characteristics which can be attributed to the Detroit educator. However, if all these things were written down, the libraries of the world could not contain them.

My name is Erica M Dean.

I am a #proudMIeducator , 
but more specifically, 
I am a #proudDetroitMIeducator .

-------------------------------------------------------------

ABOUT THE #proudMIeducator CAMPAIGN:
Celebrate the work of proud Michigan educators on social media using #proudMIeducator. #proudMIeducator is a campaign of the Michigan Department of Education that aims to acknowledge, celebrate and elevate the work of great educators in the state of Michigan. For more information, please visit Proud Michigan Educator Campaign .

We're Gonna Need a Bigger Box of Tissue (3.28.2017)

Disappointed.
Disheveled.
Dissatisfied.
Distraught.

The teacher walked into her colleague's classroom fighting back tears.

It was the end of the day. She was weary and worn out from the challenges of the day.

To make matters worse, she had been faced with a less than favorable classroom observation.

Another teacher has been verbally belittled and dismantled in front of his class by the school leader. As he mentally disconnected himself from the rest of the workday afternoon, some students reacted with empathy to the treatment the teacher had received, while others showed a certain indifference.

These are just two of many stress-inducing situations that some educators face.  However, what would you do upon hearing that such scenarios happened right in your school, whether it's down the hall or in the classroom next door?

In today's Education climate, where we are fighting on every hand to recruit new teachers while retaining the teachers already in place, one colleague cannot afford to have a "better you than me" spirit towards a fellow colleague.  In fact, we shouldn't feel that way towards any person (family member, church member, neighbor,etc.) or place (school district, city, etc.) that might be going through a short or long season of challenges.

Instead, you might want to keep a large box of Kleenex on hand and be prepared to offer a prayer, listen, advise, and wipe some tears away.

Remember:  It might not be your turn to cry today, but as my Granny would say, "Keep livin'...your turn will come soon enough".

This Ain't Nothing New (3.19.2017)

When I shared some information with a Teacher Friend
She began to panic
I was actually about to panic as well
Until I remembered that the info I was shared
Had been shared before
Last year
The year before that
and the year before that

I had to remind my friend
That what is and what's to come

Ain't nothing new

I had to remind my friend that we had heard the stories before
The requests
The rumblings
The rumors

Ain't nothing new

I also reminded my friend that the Same God who got us through the last school year
The school year before that
and the school year before that
Will be a very present help when we call upon Him this school year

There is no cry, no prayer, no worry
That God has not heard from a teacher

The upcoming local and state assessments
The teacher evaluations
The portfolio preparation
The schedule of school events and field trips squeezed in between mid-March and June

How are we going to manage it all?
How are we going to make it?

I can hear God say in my ear:

"Relax...I've got you"

"This ain't nothing new"

High Wind (3.9.2017)

It began as a regular Wednesday
March 8,2017
Nothing special
Just the normal hustle and bustle that starts the morning
A 1st hr prep
A surprise visitor or two

What wasn't regular about this Wednesday
were the constant flicker of lights and the power surges 

that prevented me from keeping my smart board on for my early morning math lesson

I had a classroom visitor, and quickly explained to my students that I would have to go "old school" to complete the lesson:  chart paper and marker

Due to the lights dimming on and off I decided to keep the lights off permanently. 

The flickering hallway lights, plus the whirlwinds of dust seen outside my classroom window 

brought something different to the day

A constant stream of local news updates showed on my cell phone.
I made a few calls, worked to keep my students calm...then saw the lights in the hallway shut down

I felt it: I knew we had lost power

This wasn't anything I had not experienced before, 

and during moments like this your mind begins to shift into another gear

Prime Directive:  Keep the students safe

It was lunch time for my students when it happened,

so the priority was navigating through the darkened hallway to the large cafeteria

Fun for the students, of course

Both traditional & cell phone flashlights illuminated our path
We reached our destination
No student left behind

Now, there were other things that took place during this power outage,but what always stands out in situations such as this is the collaboration between staff members across grade levels,pay codes and classifications

Everyone was playing their part, small or great, to ensure the safety of the students...

and it worked for the benefit of all involved

You don't quite forget moments like yesterday, simply because it has the power to bond a staff together and provide a memory of something conquered together

I like that

That Class Down the Hall (3.6.2017)

Some schools have one.

Others may not.

You know the one...that class down the hall.

People say that something's always going on in there

Good or bad.

It's the class that gets talked about, mocked, dissed and dismissed.

Is it your class perhaps?

Maybe it's mine.

Did you know that in that class down the hall there are some students with some lofty goals, aspirations, visions, and dreams?

In that class down the hall there are some artists, singers, dancers, and future STEM engineers?

There's a few future parents, factory workers, college grads...maybe even a teacher or two (I hope)

In that class down the hall there are Big brothers who run to pick up little brothers at dismissal time, and Big sisters who have the responsibility of grabbing little sisters and making it to the bus on time.

I'm sure if classroom rosters could change, they often would:  teachers choosing their students as if it were a draft.

But I've never really heard of such a thing...

Of course school leaders try their best to balance out a class, and things go well until...a school closes, families move in, students are kicked out of one school and need another place to rest their bookbag, and as a result, classroom dynamics can...change

But I digress

Let's get back to that class down the hall for a few more minutes

There's a teacher in that class down the hall who thinks their class is lovable and worthy of being loved on...

Do you know a class like that?