Let's Trust Teachers with Our Future

Photo by Tomasz Frankowski on Unsplash

I remember at the beginning of the pandemic when teachers were hailed as heroes. Meeting with students daily over Zoom, we provided stability and consistency during an uncertain time. Many parents were so grateful for our work to keep students engaged and learning as much as possible.

I felt like my work was meaningful-regardless of the difficulties.

When schools started to shift back to hybrid and in-person schedules, however, something shifted. Critical decisions and policies were made by districts and administrators, sometimes even local government officials, with little input from teachers who were on the frontlines. Rather than embrace teachers’ expertise, society seemed to ignore it.

Teachers were often left scrambling to make things work.

I remember reading about teachers’ frustrations across the country and feeling overwhelmed and exhausted myself. I wrote much of what I witnessed during these times in my book, Pandemic Teaching: Reflections from the Playground. I wondered, why aren’t we trusting the experts? Why aren’t we listening to the professionals in the trenches? Why aren’t we bringing them to the table?

After all, who better to create solutions for teaching in a classroom with plastic dividers and six feet apart than teachers? Who better to create a hybrid schedule that best suits the needs of students than teachers? Who better to problem-solve the needs of students impacted by trauma than teachers?

Fast forward five years, we are in the midst of a national teacher shortage and on the verge of another drastic shift with the development of AI. And I wonder, are we listening to teachers now? Or are we continuing to demand more from them while giving them little decision-making power?

Teachers are Problem-Solvers

If you are looking to solve a problem quickly, ask a teacher. I watch my coworkers respond to problems all day long–sometimes 10 within the first 5 minutes of the day. If you work in a school, you know what I’m talking about here.

We answer questions all day long. We respond to difficult situations, such as student disagreements, quickly and effectively. We think and rethink about why students aren’t learning as expected. We adjust our teaching methods to meet the needs of different students. And, we do it all with a smile.

When a teacher sees a problem, they can’t help but try to solve the challenge. It’s second nature.

So why not rely on teachers to solve the larger problems in education? Why not allow them the space and authority to find solutions?

Teachers Are Creative

When you have to help students learn to work together, but they have to remain six feet apart, and some of your students are virtual, you become creative. When you need to explain the concept of communism to fifth graders, you create stories, games, and role-plays. You are creative in your approach.

I once watched a coworker transform a loud and rowdy middle school audience in seconds with her creativity. She donned a hat from her costume pile and brought life to a teacher from Harry Potter while she gave instructions. It was amazing.

Teachers know how to think outside the box of limitations. They know that coming from a different angle or perspective can generate the perfect solution.

Teachers Understand Students

I have been told I am crazy for teaching middle schoolers. Few people select my profession as their career of choice. But if you’re making decisions about how a middle school should run, you had better have experience with middle school students.

Knowing your audience when you decide to change the schedule, how a lunch runs, or create an effective AI policy is imperative. If you miss this mark, your entire plan will collapse.

As a teacher, I spend the day with students. I know my students. And, I know what policies, systems, and processes are going to work in my classroom and in the school.

Teachers Have Valuable Skills

Being a teacher means you juggle many different hats. My coworkers and I collaborate with students and adults. We are able to communicate effectively so students understand our messaging, and we do the same with their parents. And, we collaborate with each other on professional projects.

As well, we brainstorm, plan, and implement projects. Some are short-term and last a few weeks, while others are nine months long. We understand the importance of iteration and feedback. Many of us have experience scaling projects to double their size or more.

So, why not involve teachers when we build and reshape our new education landscape?

Teachers are the ones who have the insights, the problem-solving capabilities, and the skills to meet this moment. Providing them with decision making power could help to stem the teacher shortage and bring innovative ideas to the table.

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I’m celebrating 5 years of my writings-Pandemic Teaching: Reflections from the Playground. Inside is a compilation of essays detailing the state of education and teacher experiences during the covid-19 pandemic.

If you want a blueprint for innovating in schools, explore my book From the Ground Up: 10 Steps to Designing Innovative Programs.