Public education in the United States is a very traditional system. Access to a high-quality education is still reserved for privileged students, standardization continues to demand conformity of students, and educators—who are also products of this system—are perpetually challenged to address the changing needs of our diverse classrooms under working conditions that don’t support culturally responsive pedagogy.
A new and unwelcome “tradition” being heaped on top of these problems is the perpetuation of rhetoric telling us our system is failing. Our students are failing, our teachers are failing and the politicians who construct the budgets and create the legislation that dictates our service delivery are failing.
But we are not failing. Even within a school system that hardly rewards innovative practice, I have encountered relentless, visionary educators who continue to adjust their practices, develop their professional knowledge and change students' lives in positive, meaningful ways. These people make it possible for students to succeed.
How do they do it? Why are they so effective?
In short, they learned to develop their talents as innovators in education, be courageous in their endeavors to break from a traditional system and carve out new paths for diverse learners.
The following is a list of qualities I have observed in innovative educators (and it’s by no means exhaustive). Some people are born with these qualities, and some work to develop their talents in innovation. And, for those like me who are somewhere between the two, it’s good to remind ourselves that it’s never too late to become who we want to be in the classroom.
So what are the qualities of innovative educators?
They cultivate unique educational and life experiences.
Innovative educators often seek out unique educational experiences that help them develop a global awareness of the education system, satisfy their curiosity about how education works in our own nation and abroad, and gain firsthand knowledge of the diverse expectations their students' families bring to the classroom regarding education.
To learn more:
Don’t be afraid to take that art history or Chicano studies course in addition to your traditional continuing education PD. If you can afford it, take advantage of that summer abroad opportunity that gets you out of your own community—even spend some time in the Peace Corps if you find yourself at a crossroads in your career. If you can’t travel, make the effort to learn another language through free online modules, volunteer at the local homeless shelter, read books or watch documentaries about people and places all over the world, or participate in cultural events in your area. The goal is to learn everything you can and to meet and develop an appreciation for people who come from backgrounds different from your own.
They cultivate professional knowledge and skills.
Innovative educators often stay up-to-date with the latest news and developments related to their field. They are critically aware of the politics, pedagogy and practices of school systems; this helps them understand the bigger picture of the system within which they work, providing the tools they need to diversify their practices and advocate for their students.
To learn more:
Get involved in your school via leadership opportunities or professional learning communities. Scan education news, including reliable blogs and other forms of social media, to hear directly from other educators and learn from their experiences. Attend Parent-Faculty Organization meetings at your school and the occasional board of education meeting (even if just as a concerned citizen), and familiarize yourself with elected officials who influence education policy locally and nationally. The goal is to continue developing your own guiding philosophy about education and deepening your awareness of others’.
They are confident, yet aware of what they don’t know.
The most effective quality I have observed in innovative educators is their keen awareness that they will never know all there is to know about education or about learners—or about anything at all, for that matter! Effective, innovative educators are always learning, trying new things, reflecting on the outcomes and redesigning their practices in response to those outcomes. They essentially see life as one giant learning experience. Because of this, they are open to new ideas and are willing to take professional risks based on their experience. They are brave, open, honest and confident, but most of all, they are humble. They know that, as educators, they have a great responsibility to encourage all students to become the best they can be.
To learn more:
Attend professional development seminars and engage in professional learning focused on innovative education. Find out what other teachers are doing in their classrooms, what kinds of opportunities they are accessing outside of their classrooms, and how they are updating their instructional practices or curricular units. Develop a collaborative culture in your building, and extend it to the local community. The goal is for you to network with colleagues so that you can continue to enhance your skills and curriculum and learn new strategies for meeting the needs of diverse learners.
Learning how to be innovative within a traditional school system and changing the inequitable outcomes for our students means we as educators must be courageous enough to break from tradition. Developing new habits, of mind and of action, can make us more valuable collaborators when we come to the table to discuss diversity, equity and culturally responsive teaching. And ultimately, it will helps us better serve all of our students.
