Upon reflecting and discussing teaching with other teachers, I realized how afraid many teachers are to share when they get it wrong. I think this is especially true in the era that we currently teach in. There is so much pressure to get it right and to be good all the time, that too many teachers have stopped sharing their mistakes. They've stopped seeking help from their colleagues or administrators. They've stopped reflecting. And that's dangerous.
The minute we stop talking about what we do wrong is the minute we stop growing. Schools have to begin doing a better job of making teachers feel safe about getting it wrong. To be clear, I'm not talking about the perpetually poor teachers who need to find a new profession. I'm talking about good teachers who are human and sometimes get it wrong. Because even the best teachers get it wrong sometimes. Yet, when you have colleagues that you can confide in, ask questions, observe, and discuss best practices with, then you have an amazing arsenal of true professional development.
I'm lucky that I have several teachers who are my friends and confidants. They challenge me to grow not only as an educator, but as a leader and individual, as well. But those kind of relationships require trust and that isn't always easy to find. So my challenge to fellow educators this fall is to find one person in your building or another building who you can provide a safe environment to discuss strengths and challenges with. These discussions might not always be pretty or easy and they might require some alcohol, but they're worth having.
Sometimes getting it wrong is actually right.
