Be involved to evolve

To be great at something, you must immerse yourself in it.

The Right Teacher understands the importance of being involved in the the work to be done. Right Teachers are not only focused on their classrooms and their students- they lead beyond the classroom.

They are involved with all students in the school, colleagues, school management and whole school activities. They are also involved with the activities of the education sector within and outside their state and country.

Because they understand that when you walk into a room and shut the door, you keep people out but also keep yourself in, they keep their doors wide open literally and figuratively.

Right Teachers take the initiative and seize the opportunities to be helpful beyond their core responsibilities as class teachers and participate actively in life beyond their classrooms. They also keep abreast of life in the broader ecosystem and in put in their best effort, knowledge and skills to ensure this reflects in their schools.

Right Teachers are teacher-leaders. They lead themselves and are capable of leading others even when they are not in official leadership positions. They serve.

Many teachers do excellent work in their classrooms. Learning is taking place and their children are progressing nicely. Then they shut themselves in. ‘My class is fantastic. I don’t need to do anything else’. This mindset cannot be further from the truth.

When you are good, teach others to be the same. Your 60% is someone else’s 100%. Success leads to more work. The work of sharing your knowledge, skills and expertise with those around you; influencing others for good and making an impact in the lives of others. Top on the to-do list of Right Teachers is making a difference by ensuring that they are not the only successful teacher on the team. They have the mindset that when the team succeeds, each member on the team succeeds.

Without involvement, commitment lacks meaning.

BUY ABC OF TEACHER PROFESSIONALISM by Dr. Abimbola Ogundere

As Dr. John Mathieson said, ‘ Ask less often, ‘What is in it for me?’ and more often ‘What is in me for it?’.

Many teachers wonder why they are not called upon do things and why they are not given promotions as at when due. At the end of the day, all organisations including schools need people who demonstrate a high level of passion, commitment and involvement. They need people who portray a passion for personal success, the success of others and the success of the whole. They need people who bring their heart to work.

Lily Tomlin puts it this way, ‘I always wondered why somebody didn’t do something about that till I realised I was somebody’.

As we start this school year, my question for you is this, ‘Are you going to be somebody?’

Love and Light

DAO.