The Phenomenal Teacher

The phenomenon of a good teacher always seemed mythical. I’ve always felt the essence of a good teacher was a multifaceted role but never realized the profound responsibility that comes with it to ensure the well-being of all students. As I strive to foster behaviors that will make an impact I realize it is also about creating a safe environment where my students are valued, respected and free from harm, physically, mentally, and emotionally. When trying to pursue this phenomenon I can't help but wonder if what I am doing is enough. You always think it’s about the education you’re providing the children, but that’s not all that goes into being a great educator. There is so much more. A teacher serves as a guardian of emotions. We have this deep sense of awareness and sensitivity to the pressure of the world around us as our role as a teacher stretches beyond instruction. 

Being a protector means cultivating a safe environment for your students to feel secure and that starts with a foundation of trust. Students carry their own versions of baggage and that is an emotional burden that they need help lifting at times. In order for your students to feel safe to ask for assistance they must first feel free of judgement and ridicule. If a teacher creates trust with their students then the students are more likely to open up and express their grievances. Most often I have seen this empathy expand to students advocating for larger inequalities throughout not only the classroom but social issues. If we raise students to have empathy and compassion they begin to advocate for not only themselves but for other marginalized students that might not have the same confidence. This doesn’t protect them from failure but provides tools for critical thinking and problem-solving.

With today’s climate, and so many changes altering the way we can educate our students and protect them, we must create the environment we want them to thrive in. This is hard to do when we are constantly having to re-evaluate the protocols and procedures in place to ensure they will be shielded against the forces that threaten our most prized possessions. We practice all the drills to be prepared for life‘s most devastating moment, but what they don’t prepare you for is the reality of one of those moments actually happening to you inside your classroom. A teacher is not only required to remain calm but usher students to secure locations and safeguard the students both physically and emotionally. 

Protection is not just about shielding our children from harm's way but also about empowering them to protect themselves. A teacher is responsible for building those skills within our students to help them navigate  this world with confidence, self-awareness and with resilience.This means developing our students emotionally, teaching them to advocate for themselves in difficult situations. It’s not just about protecting them but providing them with the tools they need to protect themselves mentally, physically, and emotionally. A student’s well-being is our greatest investment. To have a teacher that will provide a foundation of trust to a student by not only nurturing that growth in them but challenging them to take risks in order to learn is to provide a student with a lifetime of success. A phenomenal teacher is not just one that educates but shapes the future in a profound way that goes beyond the classroom.