As I was driving to NCCAT, the “Humpty Dance” came across my iphone playing in my truck, and it hit me that that line could be a cool title for my first blog. More importantly, it gave me a starting point, which is just what I needed!
Expectations. That’s what I’m writing about. What do I expect from the Kenan Fellowship? I think I’m going to address this is, “what do I expect out of myself with this fellowship?” That is a way easier question to answer.
I am a very good teacher. I am good at what I do. My results show it. Music is my passion and the kids see it and respond well. I’ve been doing it for 16 years, and most years have been great. One of my primary goals in my classes is to challenge the students to be best they can be. I expect to have a great band and orchestra. I expect to win competitions, and pass a love of music and learning to all my students. I expect that my students will work hard and give me their best. I expect that I will have some kind of impact on my students (positive or negative). I also expect my students to be better people than they are right now. To challenge themselves, not just as musicians, but as people, to be better than good, better than great. Then it hit me around the first part of this year……I WASN’T DOING WHAT I AM ASKING OF MY KIDS!!!!! Then the email came. The one with the chance to apply for a Kenan Fellowship, and the rest is self explanatory.
I expect to work hard in this fellowship. I expect to prove to myself and others that I am more than just a music teacher, that I am a viable part of the educational community. I expect to have my voice heard and respected, as I will do with all my fellow Fellows. I expect to learn how the other side of education works (DPI), and I expect to put that knowledge to good use at my local level. I expect to challenge myself with new ambitions, new goals, and a new outlook on life. I expect to do new things (whitewater rafting was just a start!!!!!), and I expect good things to come from this fellowship. Not a new job (although I am always looking for a bigger paycheck, but who isn’t) but new ways to teach, new ways to be effective, new ways to help people, and new relationships that will enrich my life. The members of my Home Base Fellowship are already friends in my book, and it saddens me to be leaving them after just two weeks, but I am happy to know I will be working with them all year. I expect to become the person I tell my students to be.
I don’t really know who will be reading this, but anyway, I leave you with this: Are you doing what you are asking your students to do? Are you willing to change as much as your students? I challenge you to do this. “Do as I say, not as I do” doesn’t work anymore! It hasn’t for a long time. I expect that all the Fellows will adopt the same mentality as myself, and challenge the system for the better.
In conclusion, please, let me introduce myself. My name is Michael Sutton. I am a Teacher, Musician, Husband, Father, and a 2013-14 Kenan Fellow.
Michael, I totally agree with you. We must always learn more than our students do. Though frustrating at times, this is the only way that we can improve. I hope I can surprise myself during this experience.
And I am sure that will happen. Just remember, the best surprises happen when you are not looking for them!!! All you have to do is leave yourself open for them to come!
Michael, you and your Home Base team put on an awesome skit today. I am going to try to rise to the challenge of learning to use two forms of technology presented this week and implementing them in my class this year. I am very tech-challenged (just ask any of the Dublin teachers), so this is a tall order for me. Wish me luck.
Thank you so much for your kind words. I am kind of a tech nerd, so please don’t hesitate to drop me a line and ask questions. I love that stuff. If you need my info, just let me know. I am always willing to help!
What a great post, Michael!
One of the reasons I wanted to part of this fellowship is to learn from the other fellows. Your blog post is inspiring to anyone who wants to learn and improve, not only as an educator, but as a colleague. I see your post as a personal challenge to take my opportunities and work to make them as big an impact for change in my life as possible. Thanks for sharing so openly and honestly!
“I expect to become the person I tell my students to be.” Great quote. Noble motives!
It is an honor to share these experiences with you.
See you online, in webinars, on Google Hangout or somewhere virtual.
Donna