Be Willing to Ask the Questions that Generate New Thinking

"Children are the Priority.  Change is the Reality.  Collaboration is the Strategy."
~Judith Billings
Washington State Superintendent

Professional Development is an opportunity for teachers to revisit and continue work on district initiatives and goals they have been focusing on throughout the school year.  Finding training that motivates teachers during the month of May can be tricky.  It is a hectic month for principals, teachers, and schools.  Trying to wrap up the school year, meet testing deadlines, fill out report forms, pack up your classrooms, and send students home for the summer can be overwhelming. 

On May, 11^th, Linn-Mar had the privilege of hearing Sarah Brown Wessling speak to our staff.  This was the first time in a decade that all our schools K-12 gathered together for the same keynote speaker. 

Sarah Brown Wessling shared with us honestly and openly.  It was crystal clear she has a passion for her students’ learning as well as her own learning.  She is 100% committed to making learning meaningful for all students, and making positive changes to the profession.  She shared lessons learned, and struggles she has faced in the classroom.  She offered up something far more valuable than advice.  She reminded us that we hold the keys to our success.  She affirmed what we already know:  there is no secret potion, bill, law, curriculum, test, or program that can make students learn better.   Sarah stated that formulas create standardization, similar to a paint by number, where artists create masterpieces.  What may appear chaotic, is deliberate, precise and carefully designed.

If we want to collectively improve education as a whole, we have to ask each other tough questions, collaborate, and work to improve our craft.  We have to “coach” each other.  That means we don’t tell each other what to do.  We listen.  Ask GREAT QUESTIONS.  LISTEN some more.  ASK MORE questions.   As leadership is being implemented and defined in our state we have an opportunity to truly change the face of education.   

Sarah Brown Wessling spent time speaking to our K-12 staff and then visited with our full-time teacher leadership staff.  We had several questions for her.  What impressed me the most about our time with her was how she responded to our questions.  She spent a fair amount of time asking us question back.  She reminded us we hold more capacity than we often give ourselves credit for.  She told us that teacher leadership is born of great teaching. 

Whether a teacher has taught one year or thirty years, one knows enough to know it is hard.  Subject matter and grade level do not trump the level of difficulty.

Art. Music. Biology. Elementary.  Secondary. 

All subjects are different. 

All grade levels are challenging. 

We need to remain optimistic, and efficacious in our ability to move our students beyond their current reality.  She reminded us to draw upon our strengths as classroom teachers and bring our very best to our current roles.  She painted a door for us to open and walk through. 

Her speech was a perfect way to help our teachers feel motivated to make a strong finish this school year.

Key Points shared with our Coaches:

• What do students need to learn?
• What is the best way to teach them?
• Bring the best skills of your teaching to your current role
• Give yourself permission to make mistakes and share what you learned 
• Reframe your thinking:  we are all LEARNERS
• Our job is not to tell others what they should/shouldn’t do.  Our job is to ask really tough questions.
• Release learning to our students- Can they do some things on their own?
• No magic secret of how to be a teacher… we should be sharing and collaborating and asking questions to make our practice better.

It is clear that Sarah Brown Wessling embraces the role of teacher with her whole being and she wishes that for all teachers.  I’m quite certain she made an impact on Linn-Mar Staff.  Thank you for collaborating, consulting, and coaching us.  I like to also send a shout out to Sheri Crandall, Jeff Frost and the High School Cadre for organizing and arranging this opportunity for our staff.