Fyodor Dostoevsky knew that “a new philosophy, a new way of life, is not given for nothing. It has to be paid dearly for and only acquired with much patience and great effort.” Teaching with fidelity rather than solely with short-term outcomes in mind is a hard-won battle. Students need mentors, leaders, and teachers who are role models of how to be loyal to a philosophy. They need people who are truly invested in them on a deep, personal level. We cannot forget the power of relationships and mentoring. In the end, “who” we are teaching is far more important than “what” we are teaching. We must invest in people rather than worry over rhetoric. Students need to know there are people at school who will protect them, but also those who will challenge them intellectually.
School should be a refuge from the battles raging in their personal lives, their shelter from society’s warfare, their defense against naysayers and doubters, and their training ground for winning future fights they will encounter in life. The AVID philosophy is nothing new; it just makes good sense. It is a system that fosters relationships and support for students and teachers. However, just as Dostoevsky claimed, any school with a burgeoning AVID mindset will find that taking these approaches school-wide is definitely acquired with much patience and great effort. One of my AVID seniors said, "it is amazing how something so simple (AVID) can have such a profound impact on someone's life."
Nick Carraway, my favorite narrator of all time, famously remarked, “Reserving judgments is a matter of infinite hope.” As teachers we maintain infinite hope every day by believing that every child that steps into our classroom can learn. Teachers who care refuse to judge. We refuse to give up, even when the odds are stacked against us. We trust our students will take responsibility for their learning and make good choices. I exhort my colleagues everywhere to unlock the “Eighth Habit” of highly effective people according to Covey. He believes, and I agree, that this is the key to greatness: “find your voice and inspire others to find theirs.” I am not the only teacher who C.A.R.E.S. I am part of a large tribe of educators who are:
Below you will find three YouTube videos from this summer's AVID Institute in Philadelphia:
1. ITZIRI "ADDIE" GONZALEZ: To see firsthand the impact AVID can have on one life, enjoy this passionate speech from a current AVID senior and Questbridge scholar. She will be the first in her family to graduate from high school and attend a four-year university. She attends SLHS in Sanford, NC.
2. ELISSA SMITH: She is a very "tired" teacher who can light up a room with her passion for education.
3. SEAN MCCOMB: He is the National Teacher of the Year who believes we are "an oasis of grace."
School should be a refuge from the battles raging in their personal lives, their shelter from society’s warfare, their defense against naysayers and doubters, and their training ground for winning future fights they will encounter in life. The AVID philosophy is nothing new; it just makes good sense. It is a system that fosters relationships and support for students and teachers. However, just as Dostoevsky claimed, any school with a burgeoning AVID mindset will find that taking these approaches school-wide is definitely acquired with much patience and great effort. One of my AVID seniors said, "it is amazing how something so simple (AVID) can have such a profound impact on someone's life."
Nick Carraway, my favorite narrator of all time, famously remarked, “Reserving judgments is a matter of infinite hope.” As teachers we maintain infinite hope every day by believing that every child that steps into our classroom can learn. Teachers who care refuse to judge. We refuse to give up, even when the odds are stacked against us. We trust our students will take responsibility for their learning and make good choices. I exhort my colleagues everywhere to unlock the “Eighth Habit” of highly effective people according to Covey. He believes, and I agree, that this is the key to greatness: “find your voice and inspire others to find theirs.” I am not the only teacher who C.A.R.E.S. I am part of a large tribe of educators who are:
- Connected to students, families, colleagues, and the community
- Altruistic about the beauty in teaching and the life-sustaining power of education
- Real with everyone; humble when necessary, yet proud when appropriate
- Engaged in our profession through developing ourselves and others
- Scholarly—our passion for our craft is infectious; we never stop learning!
Below you will find three YouTube videos from this summer's AVID Institute in Philadelphia:
1. ITZIRI "ADDIE" GONZALEZ: To see firsthand the impact AVID can have on one life, enjoy this passionate speech from a current AVID senior and Questbridge scholar. She will be the first in her family to graduate from high school and attend a four-year university. She attends SLHS in Sanford, NC.
2. ELISSA SMITH: She is a very "tired" teacher who can light up a room with her passion for education.
3. SEAN MCCOMB: He is the National Teacher of the Year who believes we are "an oasis of grace."