Under the microscope

Some of you know that I do some consulting work for a large educational organization. One of the greatest perks of this job is that I get to spend time with teachers across the country. No matter where I go I find that teachers everywhere are exactly the same. In each group there are bright- eyed, bushy-tailed new teachers right out of college. They exude good intentions and passion. Each group plays host to several old timers; folks who might have been bright-eyed at one time. They have seen and done it all. There's nothing you can teach these teachers. Most of the teachers I meet, with very few exceptions, are well-meaning folks who see their jobs as not just a career but an avocation. They care about kids. They want to help them succeed.



I just wrapped up a week with some of the best teachers I've ever had the pleasure to work with. These folks showed up for 4 days at 8am during the middle of their summer. They were on time, hospitable and good hearted. They genuinely cared for kids. They were also under an intense amount of pressure. The school in which they are employed recently received a HUGE grant to improve student achievement. One stipulation of this grant required the principal to FIRE 50% of the instructional staff. The teachers I worked with this week were hired on Friday and showed up to a week long training on Monday morning. One man was hired on Tuesday morning and joined the training on Tuesday afternoon! Without knowing what grade level they were going to teach they wholeheartedly participated and embraced what I was giving them. They made me proud to be a teacher.



I guess my point is this: Where are these bad teachers that I keep reading about? I know they exist. I have and do work with them but they really are few and far between.