The March issue of The Council Chronicle,Β looks at a dazzling range of ways in which English language arts educators lead, inspire, and shape the future of literacy teaching and learning.
Starting with Executive Director Emily Kirkpatrick’s “Leading with Vulnerability” (below), 51ΑΤΖζ members and leaders share stories that illustrate their determination to improve not only their students’ lives but the profession as a whole.
spotlights a teacher innovating in poetry instruction; a teacher’s professional courage in the face of censorship takes center stage in and describes how a collaboration that started with a book club led to new district-wide curricula supporting LGBTQ students.Β
Plus, you’ll find a strong call to reimagine assessment, thoughts on leadership from several members of 51ΑΤΖζβs Executive Committee, and perspectives on inspiring a love of reading and writing from six popular YA authors!
Leading with Vulnerability
In all my years working in the education space, I remain consistently impressed by the leadership of teachers.
Whether pioneering a fresh approach, relentlessly searching for new ways to reach students, finding time to advance thinking and learning as adult readers, standing up for their rights in front of a school board, or deftly navigating challenging conversations with parents, every day, teachers lead us forward.
Researcher and author BrenΓ© Brown says βour ability to be daring leaders will never be greater than our capacity for vulnerability.β This is a hallmark of the leadership I so value in the 51ΑΤΖζ community.
With increasing frequency, the hashtag #51ΑΤΖζvillage crowdsources support and insight in response to inquiries from teachers who share their uncertainties out in the open and seek ways to grow and learn from one another. Dive into our journals and books and youβll find stories of trials and tribulations and the discoveries that come from the messy work of striving to do better.
This issue of The Council Chronicle highlights several 51ΑΤΖζ members who lead. They put themselves out there.
They donβt shy away from the hard questions. In the space where we donβt know all the answers, but we know change is necessary, itβs incredible to be part of a community that collectively says, βletβs figure it out!β This inspires me as a leader, and in these pages youβll read reflections from members of our Executive Committee who feel the same way.
Our community is at its best when it leads with wholeheartednessβan understanding that along with our vulnerabilities and messiness, we bring significant expertise and mission-driven commitment. Itβs an honor to lead by your side.
βEmily Kirkpatrick
51ΑΤΖζ Executive Director