3 Ways Forward Together Could Shift Your Mindset as a Teacher
A Guest Post from Dr. Maggie Espinola
Hey everyone!
I connected with Maggie Espinola through her Instagram account, and she is such a breath of fresh air in the world of education!
One day, seemingly right when I needed a boost, she reached out to me to let me know something I had written had really resonated with her and how much she appreciated my work! It meant a lot!
I thanked her and then asked her what she thought of my latest book, “Forward, Together,” and she told me she hadn’t read it!
Immediately, I asked her why, and she said something to the effect of “It seems more like a book for administrators…do you think it would be a good book for teachers?”
Obviously, being biased, I definitely thought it could apply to teachers, but my mindset is that I can take any book and make it applicable to me, as long as I am looking to shape the lessons to my current context. I am a big believer in shaping my learning to what I want to achieve, rather than having someone do it for me. This is one of the biggest premises of “The Innovator’s Mindset,” and I try to live by that to this day.
But I also wanted to hear Maggie’s thoughts on whether the book applied to teaching, because I was very interested in her perspective.
I was humbled by how much she appreciated the book, and was blown away by the message she sent me on Instagram after reading it!
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“Finished! Actually read it in two sittings, but it took this long to find two times to read. Your ability to weave narrative, corny humor, dad jokes, and tangible strategies is incredibly powerful. I had a challenging year…
Your perspective section gave me so much validation in my worth.”
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But I also asked her to write this week’s “3 Things” newsletter from her perspective, and I loved her takeaways from the book as shared below!
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3 Ways “Forward, Together” Could Shift
Your Mindset as a Teacher
By Maggie Espinola
1. The Teacher on the School Improvement Team
“Teachers aren’t scared of change, but they are definitely scared of wasting their time on something that they don’t think will have an impact on the classroom.” — p. 53
As teachers, we don’t always feel like we have a seat at the table during large-scale planning meetings with administrators.
This book argues the opposite.
Couros highlights a district that went through four superintendents in five years, and you can feel the lack of trust behind every initiative. Instead of handing teachers another district improvement plan to implement, Superintendent Deidre Roemer created one with them.
Teachers are not tired of initiatives; they are tired of initiatives that lack relevance in their classrooms.
Roemer’s staff researched practices already working in other schools and engaged in purposeful dialogue about how those ideas could support their own students.
What stood out most was that the collaboration itself mirrored strong teaching practices.
Disagreement was not treated as a problem, but as a productive tool for moving schools forward when guided by clear protocols.
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2. The Teacher and the Administrator “Out to Get Them”
“Be curious, not judgmental.” As shared from Ted Lasso on p. 62
Have you ever felt like the first second you could finally breathe in your classroom was the exact moment your supervisor walked in for a formal observation?
Girl, me too.
Teaching is a constant series of interruptions, pivots, and split-second decisions, many of which go unnoticed.
Couros shares a conflict with a veteran teacher that could have derailed a new portfolio initiative he was introducing. Despite her initial pushback, she invited him into her classroom. That invitation created space for a more honest conversation, and eventually, she became a leader of the initiative by sharing exemplars from her own classroom.
You will never have enough time, not as a teacher or as an administrator.
But when leaders invest time purposefully into conversations like these with those they serve, the uncertainty teachers often feel about leadership’s perception of them can begin to fade.
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3. The Teacher and the Parent
“Do you know who else loves their kids? My mom and dad, and they’re sitting right behind you right now.” — p. 87
Parents want what is best for their children. And everyone is someone’s kid.
If we approached difficult parent conversations from that perspective, conflict would likely decrease exponentially.
Couros encourages educators to address concerns directly instead of tiptoeing around them. When we enter conversations focused on listening rather than simply being heard, the dynamic changes for everyone involved.
Model for families the same communication skills you expect from students. Invite them to the table for difficult conversations.
Partnership—not defensiveness—is what moves schools forward.
PhD Maggie Espinola
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To be honest, I had no idea where Maggie was going to go with her takeaways, but I appreciated them greatly.
Years ago, I argued that all learning is personal as we have different experiences, needs for the present, and goals for the future.
Maggie’s takeaways resonated with me because they were unique to her context and role, and that is the hope from the book. People figure out their own way, as communities, like individuals, have their own context and wants for their future!
It would be great if you could connect with Maggie here on Instagram and say hi if possible!
Too often, we just browse others’ work, and although we appreciate it, they never know.
As I have shared before, there is a difference between being valued and feeling valued, so it is essential that we take time to show appreciation for the work of others.
If you have read “Forward, Together” and are interested in writing your takeaways from the book, please feel free to reach out, as I would love to highlight the work and writing of others over the next few months! We are also looking to start a book club in the fall, and I would love it if anyone out there would be interested in helping me moderate and lead the experience!
And if you haven’t read it, I hope you will consider checking it out on Amazon (please read the reviews!).
Have a great weekend, and thank you for all that you do to support the work of others! I know it means a lot!
Sincerely,
George Couros