Teaching is not all about test scores. A student is not a score.

I was fortunate enough to be in a faculty meeting today that was not focused on test scores. It was about relationships and culture. How do we build a better culture in our school?

Attitude Adjustment

One of the things I thought about after the meeting was attitude.

What should our attitude be as we come to work each day? As we see students walking down the hallway? In our classrooms?

To answer this question I have to give a little background.

Story Background

This is my tenth year teaching, but my first year at this particular school. I spent nine years at another school in the district. My new school is closer to home and is the school I proudly graduated from.

After getting my rosters for this coming school year, I obviously didn’t know a lot of the names.

I vaguely picked out one of the names I saw on my list.

It turns out the name was of a student I would be unable to teach this year. Not out of his or my choice, but because he was in need of a heart transplant.

I had heard his story but really had not put a face to the name until I saw some flyers describing his story.

He was homeschooled this year for many and obvious reasons. So, all I know about him was from what others had said, his friends that remained in my class, and from following his story on social media.

His story and his character are…impressive and touching. By following the story on social media and reading his mother’s comments on how he never complains, I’m humbled. Because we all know, if there’s ever someone to tell your complaints, it’s your momma. And, his momma said he doesn’t complain.

So from what I have learned, he is strong, resilient, and uncomplaining.

What Your Attitude Should Be

My attitude toward teaching is: I WISH I COULD TEACH THAT KID.

That’s the attitude we should carry into work with us everyday. We should look down the hallway and think “I can’t wait to teach him or her.”

We got into teaching to touch lives. Some days are hard, but imagine the difference you could make if you were even excited about the students who weren’t in your classroom yet.

I’m not saying I succeed at this everyday, but I should carry that attitude with me to work each day.

Oh, It Gets Better

Truthfully, my blog could stop there. That’s a point we could all learn from. But, that’s just not good enough.

The best part of this story is that the student I didn’t get to teach this year, through many prayers, his persistence, and his patience, HE GOT A NEW HEART!

News doesn’t get any better than that!

I didn’t get to teach him this year, but I will get to see him grow up. I may get to teach him in the future. And, that is EXCITING.

His story touched my life and lives of many, many others.

I’m excited. I hope you are excited. Now take that excitement with you and inspire others.

If you want to read more about building relationships with students, read “The Most Important Thing in Education.”