It's not about me!!!!!

This is a blog post that's not about me. Well it kinda is but you'll understand what I mean the more you read in this post. I (the person who this is not about) was able to interview the pricipal of Cleveland Road Elementary School today. I explained to her in the interview that when I saw that she became teary-eyed and overwhelmed with emotion after one of her teachers was attacked phisically outside of her school duties, I said to myself that I had to interview this lady to see how she has gained such a love for her job, but more importantly for her staff and the children in the school. General questions were asked such as, "How many years did you spend in the classroom, if any, before becoming a principle?" and "How did you build such a sence of community with your staff here at Cleveland Road Elementary?" were asked and answered with great enthusiasm and I could generally tell that she loves what she does everyday. Someone once told me that if you love your job, you'll never work a day in your life. I can definitely see that with this wonderful principal.

The priciple at CRES told me that there are times when it gets difficult with the staff. She also made a great statement. Sometimes as teachers we forget that it's not about us. It's about the children that we have in our class everyday. They deserve the very best and it's our job show them that the impossible is nothing if they believe that they are special and can do absolutely anything that they set their minds to. She told me that the main difference between becoming a principal vs. remaining a teacher is that, instead of one group of 20-30 children "your" classroom, the principal has to worry about all of the classrooms, all of the teachers and staff, and most importantly all of the children in the school.

This statement stuck with me during the day and I felt as thought I had a great understanding of what I wanted to do and what I wanted to accomplish in my career. After lunch and recess the students had an in-school field trip. This was one of those trips that the county sends someone out with different types of animals and a snake, and animal skin, and a snake, and the children learn about nature (by the way...did I mention they brought a SNAKE!!!!!!!!) I absolutely hate snakes and my first instinct was to walk to the back of the group and watch from a distance.

Eventually the children were able to pet the snake and I was in a tough situation. I could run and hide and show the children that it's ok to be afraid, but they weren't afraid. It was at this moment that the comment the principal made earlier in the day came rushing back into my head. I was able to do something as small as stepping outside of my box to show the entire 2nd grade that they can overcome their fears by facing them head on. The students knew that Mr. Haley was afraid of snakes, but to them I was a hero. I was able to do the one thing that I feared most in that moment. I pet the snake and the children were more excited for me than I was even for myself.

So the moral of this blog is that as educators, we impact the lives of our students in everything that we do. One simple action can change a child's life. It could give that child the courage to say, "I can pass the CRCT." or "I can learn to read independently." These are this things that make our job the best careers in the world. I touched a snake today...but this blog is not about me.....it's about the 54 kids lives I changed when I touched that snake.