The North Carolina Teacher of the Year, Tyronna Hooker, spoke at one of our faculty meetings recently – a shot in the arm as we enter this season of testing. She shared an inspirational story with us, and, although I have to admit that I don’t always pay attention to the heartwarmers, I was…inspired. In the story a woman who is facing adversity boils a carrot in one pot, an egg in another and a coffee bean in another. The carrot gets mushy and the egg hard, but the coffee bean? Changes the water. School isn’t always easy, but we all, teachers and students alike, have a choice in how we respond to challenges.
I thought about the ways in which my students have been the bean this year. Making bracelets to raise money to provide clean water in Africa, welcoming students with special needs to their classroom, writing award-winning speeches, assisting teachers in a grant-writing project to provide a defibrillator for our school, pitching in to help our custodian while another has been on medical leave for four months, and the list goes on.
I want to be the bean everyday for my students – challenging their minds, dispelling myths, breaking up stereotypes and always, always pushing for more.
I want to be the bean everyday for my colleagues – smiling, working as a team player, and helping in any way I can.
I want to be the bean in my community – listening, advocating for students and speaking positive words about my school.
How about you? In what ways have your students been agents for change this year? In what ways do you want to be the bean?
Kendal teaches 7th grade social studies and blogs at a spacious place
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