Teachers Are Inspiration

in·spire  (n-spr)
v. in·spired, in·spir·ing, in·spires
v.tr.
1. To affect, guide, or arouse by divine influence.
2. To fill with enlivening or exalting emotion: hymns that inspire the congregation; an artist who was inspired by Impressionism.
3.
a. To stimulate to action; motivate: a sales force that was inspired by the prospect of a bonus.
b. To affect or touch: The falling leaves inspired her with sadness.
4. To draw forth; elicit or arouse: a teacher who inspired admiration and respect.
5. To be the cause or source of; bring about: an invention that inspired many imitations.
6. To draw in (air) by inhaling.
7. Archaic
a. To breathe on.
b. To breathe life into.
v.intr.
1. To stimulate energies, ideals, or reverence: a leader who inspires by example.
2. To inhale.

I am inspired by teachers.  

It seems that teachers are either vilified or put on a pedestal these days. The media paints teachers with very broad strokes. They are the unionized masses out for themselves and their precious tenure and pensions that are contributing to the downfall of our education system, or the selfless professionals tirelessly working, without pay or respect, to educate our children. I am not talking about either of these caricatures.
More often than not, when I leave a training session, I am incredibly proud to call myself a teacher. Don’t get me wrong, to quote my favorite trainer on the planet, Chris Yeager, “Rational people don’t do this job.” But the irrational, creative, driven, quirky, curious members of this profession are what make us so inspirational.

• I am inspired to watch teachers who come in tired and overwhelmed and watch them shrug off all that they have on their plate and become completely engaged when they start to realize that what they are teaching is going to affect their students for the better. Why? Because teachers are on a lifelong quest to nurture a love of learning.
• I am inspired to watch the minds of teachers start to spin when they have latched on to an idea and are starting to plan how to make it happen in their classroom. Why? Because every teacher worth their salt can’t help but take a good idea and create a plan for their classroom, usually on the spot and in collaboration with a colleague.
• I am inspired by the fact that I learn something new every time I work with a group of teachers because they have come up with a fresh way of approaching using the maps. Why? Because creativity is the name of the game in teaching.
• I am inspired when I see veteran teachers who are decades into their careers and new teachers who are only a year or two into this crazy wonderful profession still working on their craft. Why? Because in this profession learning IS teaching. It is the agony and ecstasy of this job…you are always learning, which is so exciting, and you are always teaching, which is so exhausting.