Shanna Peeples, recently named National Teacher of the Year, published on her blog a speech that she delivered in DC during her selection process.
I don’t want to offend you, but I have to tell you that I will be talking about the f-word today.
And that f-word is a four-letter word that’s as obscene as any you’re likely to be exposed to because that f-word is fear.
And I know a lot about fear. I was raised in it by a father who drank to escape it and a mother so fearful of life that she isolated herself from even her children. I come from the fallout of fear: domestic violence, addiction, abuse and neglect. However, what I know about fear is that even though my parents were both strangled by it, they encouraged me to be brave where they could not. And thankfully, I had teachers who made school my sanctuary…
As teachers, we have to face down normal fears of a lesson falling apart or the possibility of losing control of a class. But the fear I’m talking about as a problem goes beyond that to the fear of judgement over student scores or fear of being the one who will tank the school’s performance rating…
When we risk being authentic in our process, our products and our purpose, we teach our students faith rather than fear. We make a way for our best selves and their limitless possibility. We teach them the most important lesson: it can be done.
To read the entire speech, see http://www.shannapeeples.com/?p=615
