“You teach who you are.” When I read Parker Palmer’s words years ago, I remember feeling like I’d been hit with a stick. I was still new-ish in my role at Antioch (do we ever stop feeling like new-ish teachers?) and I felt like I was always playing catch-up. There were always new studies to read andnew ideas and voices to explore— some really new and others just new to me— so the idea that the most important voice I could explore was my own? If I’m teaching who I am— if good teaching comes from self-knowledge— then all of the content knowledge in the world is only going to get me partway there.
Well, that felt refreshing in a “drink cold water after finishing an Altoid” kind of way. Not a particularly refreshing kind of refreshing— more a jarring “that was unexpected” kind of feeling. Almost two decades later, I appreciate the wake-up call. I needed to spend as much time figuring out who I was as I was spending trying to keep up to date with the research.
This month, I’m thinking about the concept of “Center– the point from which an activity or process is directed, or on which it is focused.“ Getting- and staying- clear on my Center, my true North, my core values and beliefs as a human being, helps me get and stay clear on my core values and beliefs as an educator.
I value optimism, and I believe that we all have the capacity to learn from our mistakes, or in the wise words of Ted Lasso, “I hope either all of us or none of us are judged by the actions of our weakest moments. But rather, by the strength we show, when and if we’re ever given a second chance.”
I value courage and knowledge, and I believe that being afraid is usually a sign that we’re about to learn something important, if we’re only brave enough to step into it. (Not to mention the great things we’re doing for our Anterior Mid-Cingulate Cortex!)
February is short, but it’s longer than it appears to be. Here in New England, it’s a slushy, wet, unpredictable month, which makes it an excellent month to figure out who you are- who you’re teaching- before we move on.
I’m sharing some resources that may help, but the most important resource on this topic is YOU. Ask yourself what you believe, what you value/ Just that. No focusing on what you want to do next, who you wish you were, or where you think you’ve gone wrong or fallen short. We’ll get to the growing part soon enough, but for right now, just let yourself sit with that one question- What do you want to be teaching with your life? Take some time this month to just sit with yourself- I think you’ll find the company to be absolutely delightful. 
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