Taking a break this week from the “leadership thoughts” per se. It’s just been too hot to almost do anything. So I decided to write about the heat. Hope you enjoy a little Friday levity…

Dang, It's Hot Outside

I feel the sun’s scorching rays,
As the air is lit ablaze.
The sun hugging me in a hot embrace.
Sweat rolling down my forehead,
Creating a cherry popsicle face.
Dang, It’s hot outside.

The sun beats down,
Sizzling the ground,
Soles of my shoes melting. 
Looking for a shade please,
For any breeze would be a tease.
Dang, It’s hot outside.

To work and sweat is one thing.
To sit and sweat is another.
Air-conditioner and fans are at full blast,
The heat index feels maxed!
And this wet-bulb global temp has everyone guessing? 
Dang, it’s hot outside.

Even at night, under the lights,
Humidity so thick,
I can cut it with a knife.
The chirps of crickets that I like to hear,
Now seem like moans of dread and fear.
Dang, it’s hot outside.

Morning brings a hot new day,
"Let the temperature rise," I say. 
Sweating a swimming pool with each step,
Getting sunburned just thinking,
Hoping I don’t die from heat accumulation. 
Dang, It’s hot outside. 

But, grin and bear it I do,
Putting on hats and frogg togg cools.
For in a few months,
My thoughts will change.
As the temps drop low,
And we wish the heat again.

But for right now...
Dang, It's hot outside!

Go be a great educator and leader today… Our future needs it…

Well, last week’s blog spurred a lot of conversation. Yes, based on feedback and small talk, teacher camaraderie is lost. I heard from veteran teachers (old heads) and the young guns. The split seemed to be about fifteen years of experience among the feedback. So, I thought I would extend our blog from last week and let us see the thoughts of others and close with my opinion of why we need to either go back and find camaraderie or start finding a way to include collegiality in our schools.

A thought from several veteran educators…
“Our schools are much more heterogenous than “then,” but our communities are not. So – the question should be, how can we develop true camaraderie among all of our teachers and not just those who reside in our comfort zone?”

“… it’s imperative to be intentional in these days and times!!!”

“Teachers have become our State/country’s salvation!! Without camaraderie with their peers, teachers will not get the tremendous intrinsic values from what they do for the children!!… Too few folks see or understand the true value of teaching, and that includes those in the profession-has been that way for a long time.”

Thoughts from the young gun teachers…
“I 100% agree!!! It’s crazy how things have changed and this is only my 13th year!!!”

“I have really never thought about it this way. None of my family is in education, and I really don’t talk to anyone about what I do every day.”

“I see how many of the older teachers always talk with each other. I guess that’s because they have been teaching with each other for so long. I hope I can find that the longer I stay in education.”

As you can see, camaraderie is a valuable commodity in education. Veteran and young teachers know what is at stake by losing or not having camaraderie. Being in education for 29 years, I have noticed that it seems the more teachers “get along,” the better the school culture will be. As one veteran teacher commented, “Is everything ‘push, push, push’ to raise test scores, or is there appropriate attention given to the climate of the school?” As I thought about that question, I wondered how many schools provide professional development for this. Would it be a good thing? Would school leaders see value in it? If we are going to create a culture conducive to growing students, then the school environment must help those (teachers) entrusted with that responsibility. What better way to do that, than to find ways to ensure that teachers have the opportunity to have camaraderie?

Yes, it takes effort from many different angles, but doesn’t most things that matter do? Let’s be intentional in finding ways to build each other up, edifying the good that others do. The world is standing in line to tear people down, teachers included. Schools should be one of the safest places for teachers to feel valued. It’s all about leadership on every level.

Go be a great educator and leader today… Our future needs it…

Remember… Think Leadership and Be For Others…

©2022 J Clay Norton

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