The Transformational Power of Education

We have reached the halfway point of this year's NC Ed Leaders Summer Blog Series and I am very excited to share our next post. Today's writer is Shiela Patterson, a history teacher at South Stokes High School in Walnut Cove, North Carolina. Shiela may not realize it, but she had a huge impact on me as I began my administrative career at South Stokes as an assistant principal several years ago. She is one of the most positive, hard-working people I know, and she helped guide and mentor me as I navigated the waters of my first year as an assistant principal. It came as no surprise to me when Mrs. Patterson was named the 2019 Burroughs Wellcome Fund Piedmont Triad Regional Teacher of the Year. Shiela has been an educator for 23 years, 20 of which she has spent at South Stokes. She was formerly an exceptional children's teacher but has taught history for the last 12 years. In addition to bringing history to life in the classroom, Mrs. Patterson has also led a variety of professional development sessions addressing the social studies curriculum, technology integration, and vertical alignment. As you will see from the post below, Shiela believes in the transformational power of education for students, teachers, and the community. If you need an inspirational boost to get ready for the school year, this is the post for you!

Education is transformational... for students, for teachers, for communities. And, as educators, we are at the center of that transformation process. It is an awesome responsibility and reward, and it is surely not for the faint at heart. As our student population changes statewide, we must adapt and change our thinking and approach. No matter how hard change may seem to be, it is our duty, our job, our passion to transform education so that it can transform our students.

My transformation began last week as I spent a week at NCCAT with the North Carolina Regional Teacher of the Year team, led by Mariah Morris, our 2019 Teacher of the Year. Through fabulous speakers like Freebird McKinney and Tabari Wallace, I was able to begin to understand the amazing challenges that we have in front of us as educators. We must begin to see education not only as a career or passion, but we must become educational diplomats that help our teachers and our communities understand and overcome the barriers that so many of our students face today. We must transform education to address the equity needs and educational goals and outcomes of each and every student. Education is transformational.

Education is transformational for our students. Education is the avenue by which students can overcome struggles and barriers that may have been placed in their way through family situations, physical and educational disabilities, or entrenched cultural struggles. When students come to us hungry, neglected, abused, we must remember that they CAME TO US and we have the power to meet them where they are and help provide them with the tools they need to face these challenges as we provide a meaningful educational experience. Through collaborative efforts among teachers and community members, we can begin to provide an educational environment for our students that will allow them to pursue 21st-century careers. This will not only allow them to be successful in the classroom, but in the amazing life they will live after they leave our four walls.

Education is transformational for teachers. Through constant growth by engaging in PLNs, immersing ourselves in research-based models of instruction, and staying abreast of societal issues, we can grow and learn how to best serve our students. The growth mindset does not only apply to our students, but we must apply it to ourselves as educators. We must learn it is no longer enough to impart knowledge to our students in the vacuum of a classroom; we must engage in the response of our profession to a changing student population. We can no longer ignore the huge impact technology has on our students; we need to understand how that will shape their education and their lives. Our roles as teachers are not the same as it was when I became a teacher over 20 years ago, and I embrace that. We can be transformed as educators into educational diplomats, teacher-leaders, and educational advocates.

Education is transformational for our community. As the centerpiece of most communities, schools and teachers provide a pivotal role for the direction communities can take. Schools must be inclusive, warm, and engaging to students and parents, but also be responsive to the needs of the community. By engaging community partners such as community colleges and local businesses, schools can begin to forge partnerships that allow the school to produce the citizens our areas will need in order to thrive in the 21st-century. While it is important to have local support at athletic events, the community transformation takes place when schools invite the community into their schools for STEM events, apprenticeship programs, and job shadowing days. These events help begin the dialogue addressing the needs of the community, allowing students to see a positive future in their community instead of the desire to leave when they graduate. Communities must transform if they hope to grow and schools are an integral part of that process.

Education is transformational, there is no doubt about it. We all have our transformation stories, whether it was when we were a student or as a teacher. We must remember the power of that transformation and know that every student deserves that experience. As educational leaders, we must help those around us discover their transformational power so they can be a part of the educational transformation process, not an additional barrier for our students. Good luck with the 2019-2020 school year...and let the transformation begin!

Shiela Patterson is a history teacher at South Stokes High School in Walnut Cove, North Carolina. She can be found on Twitter @historyguruE2.