When it comes to backto school time, everyone has his or her own perspective.
For parents, the list of to-dos sometimes feels daunting. Buying school supplies and clothes, planning daycare and activity schedules, arranging for immunizations or athletic physicals, and re-arranging the household priorities to account for the demands of the school year are just some of the tasks involved.
Many school personnel are also engaged in working through the summer’s project list before students arrive.
There is staff to hire, facilities to prepare, systems to implement, lessons to plan, and seemingly endless paperwork to complete. All of these efforts, however, occur against a backdrop of the excitement and anticipation of a new school year.
Certainly, many students look forward to seeing friends again, participating with new teachers and classes, and engaging in the opportunities for new experiences that come as part of their time in school (field trips, athletics, and lots of extracurriculars among them).
Yet foremost in providing the energy for back-toschool are the educators. For most teachers, preparation for a new school year is not unlike the more familiar New Year’s Day celebrations in that it is yet another opportunity to reflect on the past, reconsider our vision of the future, and begin again the journey toward making things better. Many will have taken continuing education classes, participated in workshops, or re-configured their courses over the summer. In each case, the possibilities for enhancing student learning energize teachers to try new things, refine or extend their lessons, and polish their craft as educators. Talk with most teachers about their plans for their students, and the feeling of excitement is obvious.
In my household, when someone hung up the phone and announced, “Company’s coming!” we knew it was time to get moving. A quick clean up, a meal plan, and maybe some special activity would have to be managed. Throughout the county, teachers have been working behind the scenes to prepare for the day when their company comes, when students arrive and their anticipation and anxiety meet that of the teachers, who have prepared something special for their time together. This is where the hopes and dreams of everyone involved in education— not just students and teachers, but parents, administrators, legislators, and even the local taxpayer—come together to forge the reality of student learning.
No matter how we set the stage, the optimism, energy, and professional competence teachers bring to their classrooms is the primary factor in the success of our schools. Each of us in our own roles needs to continue in our efforts to support the important work they do. Participation in parent-teacher conferences, support for professional development, engagement with community outreach, or just a kind word of encouragement can improve teacher effectiveness and, consequently, student success.
Excellence in education does not happen by accident, through programs, or enacting laws. It happens when we create an environment where the best of what originally called teachers into their profession, the results of their ongoing development and experience, and the preparation they make can be focused on meeting the needs of our students. Let’s wish them all a “Happy New Year!”
Each month a representative of our local schools will offer thoughts in Issues in Education. This month’s contributor is Peter James, director of Great Expectations School.
Leave a Reply