Blog Post #2
Jimmy Casas, in the MESPA YouTube video, “Whose Keynote Is It Anyway”, shares his favorite quote from Field Of Dreams. Share your favorite quote from this video (this Jimmy Casas talk). Describe why it is meaningful to you.
Blog Post #1
Just Talk To Me ~ The author states, “We cannot allow average to become our standard. Our kids deserve more than the status quo; they deserve our very best.” Where does average currently exist in your school? Where does average currently exist in your teaching practice? How can you raise the bar? How can you work with others to raise the standard at your school?
In the MESPA YouTube video “Whose Keynote Is It Anyway?”, Jimmy Casas challenges educators to reflect deeply on the question, “What is your legacy?” This quote stands out to me because it captures the heart of why I became a teacher in the first place. For me, my legacy is simple: to be the person for others I once needed myself. This idea is meaningful because it reminds me that every interaction, every lesson, and every moment with a student is an opportunity to offer the support, encouragement, and care that I once wished someone had provided for me. Casas’ message reinforces that our impact isn’t defined by test scores or compliance but by the relationships we build and the lives we shape. His words serve as a powerful reminder that our legacy is written daily through the way we show up for kids and that striving to be that steady, compassionate presence is what truly matters.
ReplyDeleteI love the John Wooden quote, "The most powerful leadership tool you have is your own personal example." This is an excellent reminder to live the life you would be proud to see in others. I want to live the life that others want to emulate and strive for. I want them to be happy and find happiness through gratitude. I want to model that and show that that is how I actually feel and live. We can be an inspiring leader by living out our potential! This actually help me take pressure off of myself when I ,might feel like I have to do something grand. I remember this quote and think about how I am already doing what I need to to inspire others.
ReplyDeleteAs I was watching the phrase "what can we do with the low-hanging fruit?" really stuck out to me. It's easy to teach the high achieving kids because they usually are ready to do what it takes to succeed. It's the students that are hard to reach, or don't think about their future, don't care, etc. that are a challenge. I think as a teacher those are the students that really need an above average teacher. Our principal told us once that kids come to school sometimes because they like a certain subject or teacher. I try to be the teacher that kids like to come to for any reason. Reaching that low-hanging fruit, those students that maybe try to hide in the back can be the student that gives you a poster that says he is thankful for you. That happened to me just before Thanksgiving. The poster is hanging in my office and it makes me think everyday about reaching that student in one way or another.
ReplyDeleteWhat I liked about the video was the phrase "We have to build capacity". In order to build a community of leaders we have to build capacity. I think this is a key phrase that is often overlooked. We have a generation of kids who literally have no capacity to do much outside of play video games with little creativity. As life goes on, they fall apart and expect others to do the work for them or quit.
ReplyDelete"What is your legacy your going to leave?"
ReplyDeleteI think about this fairly often. I think about, what do I want my students to remember 10 or even 20 years later about my class. Will they remember an activity I did in class, or will they remember the time that I sat down to them about their life and what made them happy or sad that has happen. Relationships are essential in teaching, and it doesn't always have to be to get students to do stuff in class. I want my students to think about how they were treated in my class and have happy memories about it. This is the legacy I want to leave behind.
What struck me in this video was when he said, "The four most powerful words in leadership are: I need your help." It's impossible to lead on your own. It takes a whole team of people committed to being leaders. He also stated trying to lead on your own will take a toll on your health or your family. He stressed the importance of taking care of ourselves first. This all hit home for me as it is easy to lose yourself in this profession. It has taken me a lot of years to learn the importance of asking for help.
ReplyDelete"If you have a heart that cares for children you are a leader." This is so important because it is at the core of why we are teachers. True engagement and learning happen when children feel safe and loved and able to take risks.
ReplyDeleteThe quote I chose was "what is the legacy you're going to leave?"
ReplyDeleteWhat this means to me is that what teachers do everyday makes a difference and that difference goes beyond just what is in the classroom. It helps students with life skills as well. Most students do not remember most things they learned throughout their school years, but they do remember how teachers made them feel, regardless of the situation. As an adult, I still talk about teachers I had with friends (and that was 20 years ago). A teacher has to decide, do I want to be remembered as a positive person who made a kid feel like they were important or do I want a student to remember me as the person who was always yelling at them and treat them like they are just a number in the gradebook.
"Just encourage our kids to make hard work their passion" because "the key is to build capacity.'" We need to build compassion in our students through our leadership. The most important trait that our kids can have when they leave the school building, no matter what the next step is, it to have drive to work hard at whatever they are doing and to realize that life is not suppose to come easy. As long as the kids have passion and desire for what they are doing, grit and emotional intelligence is what will take them the furthest in life.
ReplyDelete“We have to build capacity.” This quote is meaningful to me because it highlights the importance of making sure students and families have the support and foundation they need before expecting them to succeed.
ReplyDeleteAs an Early Childhood Special Education teacher, I believe capacity begins with children and their families. We need to help provide foundational skills, consistency, and a sense of safety so students are ready to learn and grow. When students feel supported and secure, they are better able to take in new information and try new things.
This quote also reminds me that if families and students do not have that strong foundation or capacity, they may struggle, collapse, or feel overwhelmed when new ideas, expectations, or challenges are introduced. In my role, I try to build that capacity by supporting both students and families, helping them develop the skills, confidence, and resources they need to succeed over time.
"The most powerful leadership tool you have is your own personal example," by John Wooden, is a really good quote, especially for someone who does a lot of coaching like I do. I coach football and basketball, so every year I spend 6 to 8 months with 50 or more different young men. I want them to see firsthand what it means to do things the right way or treat people the right way, and the best way for that is for me to model the behavior I want to see.
ReplyDelete"The biggest thing we should fear, is a year from now being in the exact same place as we are in today." I love being reminded of this quote and how powerful it is. We as educators have to be willing to adjust, adapt, and change so that we are consistently meeting the needs of our students. I get a new group of learners ever year and using the same teaching practices does not make sense. I have to continue to challenge myself to learn new methods.
ReplyDeleteShare your favorite quote from this video (this Jimmy Casas talk). Describe why it is meaningful to you.
ReplyDeleteJohn Wooden's "The most powerful leadership tool you have is your own personal example"! I've heard this many times in the educational field as well as coaching. The students watch every move you make; and that includes out in public. One of my students would eye me in close observation during assemblies. I usually stand at the entrance of the gym and as I'd scan the students in the bleachers, I'd often see him just staring at me. He told me I'm the only teacher he's ever had that hadn't yelled at him for whatever reason. NOTE: I do "yell" at students, so he must of been getting away with something :) THEY WATCH YOU!
My favorite quote from this video is “you need to take care of you first”. I use this a lot but I am not very good at doing this. I have my kids come first. I want them to feel safe, be successful and I sometimes care more about them be successful than they do. There are times that there needs come before mine and I don’t take care of myself as good as I should.
ReplyDeleteIn Jimmy Casas’s talk “Whose Keynote Is It Anyway,” there is a clear message about stepping into discomfort in order to grow. One quote that stands out to me is “Dive in, lean in to your fear.” I feel that this quote is meaningful because it reframes fear. In a school setting, especially as a high school counselor, fear can often show up. Students fear failure, judgment, and the unknown. As educators, we can also hesitate when it comes to trying something new or having difficult conversations. It’s easy to stay where things feel comfortable, even if that means staying average. What stands out to me is that Jimmy doesn’t talk about getting rid of fear, he talks about moving towards and through it. Growth, for both students and adult educators, can be found on the other side of that discomfort.
ReplyDeleteAt the same time, Casas reminds us that raising the bar doesn’t always require big changes. Sometimes it’s addressing what he refers to as “the low hanging fruit”. Simply saying good morning to students who need to be seen, making eye contact, or checking in with someone who seems off. Those small, intentional moments are easy to overlook, but they can have a real impact on a student’s day. In my role, this means leaning into both. Having harder conversations when they’re needed, and also being consistent with those small, everyday actions that build connection and trust. When we combine both, we start to move beyond average in a way that feels real and sustainable.
Jimmy Casas, in the MESPA YouTube video, “Whose Keynote Is It Anyway”, shares his favorite quote from Field Of Dreams. Share your favorite quote from this video (this Jimmy Casas talk). Describe why it is meaningful to you.
ReplyDeleteOne of my favorite quotes from Jilly Casas talk is, "The most powerful leadership tool you have is your own personal example." This quote resonated with me because is highlights that fact that leadership is shown through actions. People pay attention to the behaviors and actions of leaders, including leaders within the school environment. If I want others to work hard, be respectful, be positive, I must model those same qualities. Leading by example can inspire others to raise their own standards which benefits the larger environment.
Basically, this quote is a reminder that leadership is more than words but about about modeling what I hope to see in others. To be a leader in my school I need to do more than talk about being a positive leader but I need to demonstrate those qualities. By doing so, I am helping to build a positive school culture where leadership qualities are common. By being a model leader, I will encourage others to do the same ultimately creating an school environment where respect and other positive aspects are the norm.
My favorite quote was "what is the legacy you are going to leave". I consider this quite often as I go through my life not only as a teacher, but as a parent, community member, and friend. If we consider what we will pass down when we pass on, I feel like we will be more likely to have that be something positive. I think people have to be intentional with thinking about their legacy. I hope mine includes words like leadership, kindness, inclusive, and caring.
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