{"id":433,"date":"2025-09-15T18:55:06","date_gmt":"2025-09-15T18:55:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/center.antioch.edu\/csc\/?p=433"},"modified":"2025-12-17T12:19:14","modified_gmt":"2025-12-17T12:19:14","slug":"you-matter-%f0%9f%a5%b0","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/center.antioch.edu\/csc\/2025\/09\/15\/you-matter-%f0%9f%a5%b0\/","title":{"rendered":"You Matter \ud83e\udd70"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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September is all about faces\u2014\u00a0familiar and new\u2014\u00a0and figuring out, once again, how we fit together into the newish world we\u2019re creating in our schools and classrooms.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

As we kick off this year’s celebration of\u00a040 years of the Critical Skills Classroom<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0with this episode of\u00a0The\u00a0 Seedfield<\/a>\u00a0(<\/em>a great conversation with Antioch’s own\u00a0Jasper Nighthawk about the history and future of the Critical Skills approach), I’m reminded of all the folks- many unknown to me- who laid the foundation for our work today. I feel privileged to announce\u00a0that, in the coming months, we\u2019ll be sharing new tools, whitepapers, and interviews with the members of the\u00a0 Critical Schools community.

Also, as I mark my 25th year at Antioch, I can\u2019t help but think about the people who have been part of that journey. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Students, colleagues, families, leaders\u2026there are so many faces that come to mind. Some are present in my day-to-day, and others are the voices in my head that guide my decisions and push my thinking. Some were dear friends and others\u2026well, they challenged me to find new ways to understand the world and my place in it.<\/p>\n<\/div>

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Every one of them has made me into the teacher\u2014 the person\u2014 that I am today.<\/strong><\/em>

These begin-agains, <\/em><\/strong>they’re always a new adventure. Setting up new versions of familiar routines, building new connections<\/a>, and reestablishing familiar relationships. No matter how often you’ve done it, it’s always all about the people (including you! Yes, you count. You\u2019re a people too!) 

Creating classroom community is important, of course, but we also have to remember that h<\/a>aving<\/a> positive relationships<\/a> with colleagues can make all the difference<\/a> in how the year goes. When it comes down to it, after all, our lives are made up of the people in them.<\/strong>

This month, I’m sharing a few resources to help you think about the whys and hows of building and maintaining professional relationships\u2014 getting from strangers, to acquaintances, to trusted colleagues.

As with most things, it’s always a good idea to start with a bit of reflection, so why not take a moment to think about the folks who made you?<\/p>\n\n\n\n