Blog Challenge: Day 7

I know, I know... I skipped day 6, but I didn't like the prompt, so we're skipping ahead to day 7! Let's just call it the 29 Day Blogging Challenge, okay?

Who was or is your most inspirational colleague, and why?

I could probably write a literal book on this question. I have worked with so many wonderful educators in the past several years.

I can honestly say that I would not have the job I have today or do the work I do today if it wasn't for the first teaching job I had while I was in Michigan. The school I worked at was an alternative school situated in a suburban district that bordered Detroit. The school was located on 8 Mile Road, if that gives you a better idea. 

We had a tiny staff -- a total of 12 teachers the first year, I believe. We started the school from nothing and worked together to come up with procedures, expectations, rules, schedules... It was a true learning experience from start to finish. As a staff, we were incredibly close. We had weekly staff meetings where most of us were not afraid to share our opinions and argue with each other. We all had the same goal: Help these students graduate. 

There were two staff members that I grew particularly close to -- our program director, Renee, and our school administrator, Kerri. 

The first year I was there was also my first year of teaching. I met Renee at a job fair and interviewed soon after. I was excited and had no idea what I was getting into. We had staff development at the beginning of the year to get to know the other teachers we were working with and help plan and set up this new school. Renee had clear expectations from the beginning and tried to instill in us the desire and passion to teach students that don't necessarily want to be taught. 

Renee helped me to realize how important it is to build relationships with students and to help them through whatever they are going through. Even as a program director, she built special relationships with certain students. I learned to be flexible to student needs -- not every student fits the same mold. Some students need alone time to work, other students need to focus on one thing at a time. She taught me to listen to their needs and to accommodate the best I could. 

Kerri was the driving force behind the program during its second year. Together, Kerri and I worked on curriculum and scheduling. Together, we made a great team and were able to simplify and streamline a lot of the issues from the first year. From Kerri, I learned how to truly collaborate with another educator. We had completely different fields of expertise and brought different strengths to the table, but we worked incredibly well together despite that. She taught me the need for structure and firmness with students, while still building strong relationships with them. 

Both of these educators focused on students and on creating a program and curriculum that would focus on students first. They both inspired me to have a student-focused mind when planning my lessons and making decisions.