Dear Educators,

I love teachers. Plain and simple. Teachers are one of the world’s most unsung heroes.

As a retired teacher and school administrator I’ve seen the GOOD and the “not so good.” And I can promise you the GOOD far outweigh the “not so good.” The most meaningful and rewarding job I’ve ever had was as a teacher IN the classroom. Good teachers are loyal to the profession and they are persistent. I can say that because I had some really wonderful teachers influence me in positive ways through the years (and yes, some who put up with a LOT of nonsense on my part as well). But what also touches my heart is the fact that my daughter, Alyssa Lee had some of the best teachers in the world too.

She was blessed with teachers that God put in our lives at the right time. There were special teachers from St. Peter’s Episcopal Day School to Graham Elementary School to Munford Middle and High School who shaped and influenced her character. Even now that Alyssa is going into her senior year at Auburn University I can say she’s been blessed with professors there for which I’m thankful also. The exciting part is along the way, there were several “powerhouses” among this group that I can’t wait to talk about in my blog. Before I do that, I need to establish a few thoughts about character development, at least from my perspective. 

Now I’m certainly not a perfect person. I’ve made more mistakes than I care to mention. As a teacher (and a daughter, sister, mother, cousin, niece, friend) I’ve made my share of mistakes. That is one of the reasons I’m so thankful for God’s grace and mercy. And while I’m no expert in character development, I’m a lifelong student eager to improve, to learn, and to share what I’ve learned. Truthfully, life constantly provides everyone with opportunities to develop character if we choose to be aware enough to see them. People forget that character development is part of the personal and professional backdrop for everyone. Looking back I see how my family, friends, teachers, colleagues and employers influenced my own life.

I’ve learned so much through them. So I want to share my personal “top ten” list of virtues that are important to me. Some I’ve internalized more that others, and of course, some that I’ll always be trying to improve. But they are all important. And I believe that it’s more important than ever for today’s school leaders to remember that while academics and research-based instructional methods are important for promoting student success, providing a school culture that helps students develop character and virtues that will enable them to truly flourish throughout their lives is also a key part of any successful educational organization. 

Teaching is a very demanding and ever-changing profession that requires keeping an open mind about meeting kids (and parents) “where they are.” School environments are unique and vary depending on the community and the culture. But every student in every school deserves every opportunity to develop skills to succeed in this ever changing world. Incorporating character development opportunities into the school culture shouldn’t mean a teacher has “ONE MORE THING” to do in the school day. We all know that feeling, the newest thing that could change again next year (been there, done that, right?!) It does, however, involve making sincere and intentional efforts to incorporate opportunities for personal growth for everyone throughout the school environment. These opportunities should be priorities that promote positive relationships that are sown into the fabric of the entire organization. But to be successful, efforts need to involve everyone… from the school board and the system superintendent to the building principals, teachers, support personnel, parents, guardians and all other stakeholders associated with students.

The truth is, many schools today are incorporating strategies to help students and staff grow in the areas of character development. They also see the value of incorporating strong community partnerships that further opportunities for students to access their full potential. And so I want to personally say “Thank You” for what you do every single day to improve the lives of your students. Your loyal commitment to your students does make a difference, many times a difference you may never get to see. But trust me, you are making a difference. Just ask some of my former teachers… I’m living proof. After all, it took some really awesome educators to take this former class clown (who MIGHT have been sent to the principal’s office a time or two) and help her develop the character and virtues to earn a doctorate in education (and trust me, NOBODY saw that one coming!). The key point is that I was surrounded with supportive teachers, professors, mentors, peers and fellow school administrators. And I’ve been lucky to serve on some really awesome teams.

So I want to truly thank educators past, present and future who go that extra distance in educating students for the long haul. Your virtue and intentional dedication inspires me and so many others. Together we can all make the world a better place. And yes, I’m still learning. But I’m up for the challenge, how about you?