"Making different is making the difference"

With mixed emotions economic realities emerge across our state and nation. As debate, discourse, and dialogue run from the surreal to the sublime, we wait for the “next” of what will certainly be more drama especially as local and state economies continue to labor without discernable improvement. This time, however, there truly is a wolf. As realities become clear, public education will be different. It is unavoidable.

Though we have been “without” for sometime, the revenue shortfalls will without hesitation impact learning, improvement, and achievement. Our staffing plan is considerably lean. Years of declining resources caused in part by the inability to shift from historically stable and predictable economic engines to the demands, desires, and expectations of global competitiveness has taken its’ toll on the school system.

Some long to return to a time in history where at best was perceived to be better but in reality was only different. We cannot, must not dwell on the past. Rather, this is the time to be optimistic, visionary, and proactive. Huh?

Surrounded by pessimists, human magnets for unhappiness if you will, educators must be the first to optimistically embrace a confident uncertainty. We know that education will be impacted by the economy now and the foreseeable future, it will be different. The real question and challenge for each of us is how will we react to the “different”? Will we play the victim or will we rise above our circumstances and proactively influence making the “different”?

Every day educators in our school system are asked to make that moment, that period, that morning, that assignment, that learning “different” to impact lives. Making “different” is making the difference! We must not forget however our classrooms, schools, or school systems are impacted by fiscal realities that we make the difference in the lives of our students, our colleagues, and our community.

I have longed believed that we are dream makers, vision builders, and promise keepers. Yes, educators carry a tremendous weight on our shoulders but why shouldn’t we – we chose this work. We chose a confident uncertainty when we said, “yes” to working with young people.

To that end, I ask that each of us constantly and consistently remind one another that this work, the work of making a difference in the lives of others, requires a mindset of optimism not pessimism, vision not memories, and proactive versus reactive thinking, words, and action. We must now more than ever stand on the shoulders of courageous, and committed giants that made enduring differences irrespective of the circumstances, challenges or obstacles they faced. It is our time to lead with these same convictions. Imagine if you will what our community, state, and nation would see if we defined the “different”.

A lesson from our recent past should serve as a powerful example of what happens when we let others define “different”. Does the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) act resonate? Arguably the right intentions, NCLB caused great harm. The greatest of which may be the public’s perceptions of educators. We were on the wrong side of the fence. Rather than embracing NCLB and working to “right it” – we fought it. We complained, whined, and argued against it all the while alienating many of our strongest supporters - parents, community and even policy makers.

Hindsight being 20/20 we should have behaved differently and seen NCLB as an opportunity to do what we always knew to be ethically and morally right – educating all students to high standards. Alas, we may have a do over.

We can be confident that over the next six to nine months policy makers will make fiscal decisions that sacrifice educators and public education on the altar of the expedient and convenient. Yet, we have an opportunity to act differently. To do so begins with optimism, vision, and pro-acting. Economics aside, we have within our power and control enough of the variables to ensure unprecedented difference in our teaching and our student’s learning – each learner.

The choice is ours!