“You teach who you are.”     -Parker Palmer

Certainly a teacher’s knowledge of their subject (What they teach) and of their teaching strategies (How they teach) are very important.  But Palmer makes the point (The Courage To Teach) that teaching emerges from what’s inside of the teacher – from their heart.  I do believe that a teacher’s ability to connect and empathize with students flows from their inner life.  Good teaching cannot be reduced to technique.  A teacher projects their inner condition on students.  Having a strong sense of their identity, their value and their integrity are essential for teachers.  They are vulnerable daily.  They have a high  calling.  The teacher who is in  that classroom with students is important because they teach who they are.  They are in such need of our support.

Fran McGreevy

Root-Ed  Leadership & Learning
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