Leadership

Does Feeling Guilt Make Us a Better Person?

/ Dave Eberwein / 2 Comments

I feel guilt — most of us do.

Some of us likely cope with it better than others. I’m not too sure where I fit on the coping scale — Do I worry more than others? Does it interfere with my ability to move forward? Does it limit my ability to grow and become better?

Guilt permeates both my personal and professional worlds. I think I feel the most guilt when I’ve been neglectful about something. Here’s an example of what I mean …

I feel guilt when I do not send an acknowledgement to others for good work that they’ve done on an issue — a teacher for their efforts on a special event in their building — an administrator for their leadership on an important instructional topic — an office colleague for the extra work I see them do to make the system better.

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Every Child Has a Gift

/ Dave Eberwein / Leave a comment

Every child has a gift. But, being able to receive it means FIRST being able to recognize it. Schools are in a unique position to do that.

Mission Possible: To recognize, celebrate and nurture every child’s gift.

When we celebrate the gift that each child provides we enable that child to reach new heights of achievement. In public education, our doors are open to every child — every need, every complexity. Finding a child’s strengths can sometimes be the most difficult and frustrating part of our job. You see, for some children, their outward selves can mask their inner beauty through such things as learning or behavioral challenges, lack of attendance or other life complexities.

Finding the magic inside each child can be difficult — but it’s there — in every last one of them.

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Oct 5th is World Teachers’ Day – Kindness Is What It’s All About

/ Dave Eberwein / 2 Comments

Think back to your K-12 school experience.  Now, I want you to recall a specific example of a kindness given to you by a teacher in the building – something that resonated with you.  I bet you can think of something and someone immediately — and I bet that you remember that person’s name. Teachers have those interactions with students every single day.

Fiddler on the Roof

A teacher from my past that comes to mind was Ms. Bell — my Grade 10 English teacher. I had just moved from Toronto to Calgary and I didn’t know a soul.  As I am not typically the most outgoing of personalities I must have looked like a deer in headlights.  Ms. Bell took me aside one day and told me that I was to come to rehearsal next week for the school musical – Fiddler on the Roof.  She wanted me in the chorus.  She had no idea if could sing – heck, I barely even talked in class. 

And for your information … yes, I can sing.  In fact, I sing in many keys all at once.  I consider it a rare talent.

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