Grace for Educators: Encouragement for Teachersনমুনা

Grace for What Matters Most

As an instructional coach, I spend most of my time working one-on-one with adults, but that does not prevent me from being available to hear and respond to the requests of the most important stakeholders in the educational arena—the students.

Imagine my surprise when a student walked into my office one afternoon following my visit to his math classroom. The student was sitting with his head down during the 20 minutes I was completing my coaching cycle with his teacher. The teacher, knowing our area of focus was her lesson delivery, walked over to his desk several times and attempted to get the student involved in the lesson. Unfortunately, none of her attempts were successful.

The student sat across from my desk to share one vital piece of information. He wanted me to know that he was not “that student.”

While I listened to the student discuss his desire to be successful in his class, he spoke at great length about the moment that he gave up. The words that resonated in my heart were that he gave up. His conversation was laced with all of the alternatives to school that he could think of. Here was this bright young man who was considering dropping out because he was being perceived as “that student.”

I could have taken him on a tangent and shared my college experience with him, but instead I listened. I listened until he mentioned the teacher who had not given up on him. He spoke of his English teacher and everything about her and her class was positive.

He did not indicate that English was his favorite subject, but he knew that his English teacher genuinely cared about him.

I once entered a school and in every classroom the following quote by Forest Witcraft was prominently displayed on a wall:

“A hundred years from now it will not matter what my bank account was, the sort of house I lived in, or the kind of car I drove... but the world may be different because I was important in the life of a child.”

The poster was not only indicative of the culture of the school, but also a constant reminder of the impact of our legacies as teachers.

Every student that enters our classroom deserves to be treated with love, compassion, and respect. Our students know if we care or if we are just going through the motions of teaching. The accolades of men will one day cease, but the impact that we have on the lives of our students will continue long after they walk out of our classrooms.

Be that teacher who cares.

Be that teacher who understands and shows what matters most.

Prayer:

Lord, help me to fix my eyes on the things that please You. I understand that there are things that often outweigh what I feel is important, so show me what matters most to You so that I will please You daily. Help me to be an example to my students, my peers, and even my supervisors as I work daily to show students that I care. Give me the grace needed to create an atmosphere that will empower my students to be successful citizens who will make a positive impact on society. I recommit my life to service as I seek to honor You. Amen.