Self-advocacy

Today my colleague and I took a plan day to conduct site visits at two feeder elementary schools and prepare for 5th graders to visit our middle school in a couple of weeks. We have been in our own world at the middle school and it was interesting to get a perspective on things from outside of our building. In general, teachers are stressed and concerned about the state of our current educational system (including local, state, and national concerns). Supports and access to instructional materials vary by school and population, not really with any rhyme or reason. In some places staff is being added or maintained, and in some places staff is being cut. It was eye-opening, inspiring, but also frustrating and disappointing at the same time.

The amazing part of today was seeing that regardless of systems, supports, and structures, the students were in the classrooms, ready to learn and engage in learning with their peers. I observed students being kind to each other, helpful, caring, and excited about learning, excited to see new adults in the classroom and to hear that we were middle school teachers, and excited about the opportunity to go to the middle school next year. These are the things that often times we don't talk about and don't have professional development around; however, this part matters most. Encouraging students to keep going to school, to hang onto their optimism and excitement around learning, to maintain that enjoyment that growing up and moving on and becoming older can bring. I feel that as teachers we frequently lose this and get bogged down in the system.

This experience led me to some strong beliefs this afternoon during our PLC time and a great opportunity to be an advocate for my team of special education teachers - a willingness to fight for what is right, collaborate and come up with a plan, and hold true to our beliefs around what is best practice for students with disabilities. In a year when we have been pushed down and discouraged from coming up with our own ideas, we are finding common ground and a common voice in being the change we want to see in our department. We were able to advocate for ourselves today, and in the future, in the spirit of excitement around learning and adventure.