This blog post is quite a feat.

Really, Carrie? (I asked myself) You think you can really say ALL THE THINGS in ONE post? Are you serious? Because you aren’t really an expert — even after 20 years of teaching.

One never becomes an expert at teaching.

Because kids are always changing. And society is always pushing. And the state is always creating new tests. And the nation is always attempting to make education better or harder or more complicated or easier or…something.

So becoming an expert isn’t really in the cards.

But is that really what I want to be?

An expert?

Nah.

Instead of calling me a teacher I’d rather you call me teachable.

Instead of praising my “Masters Degree” I’d rather keep attempting mastery every time I fail.

Instead of being in charge, I’d like to make change.

Instead of just telling my kids I love them, I pray I can show them.

Instead of complaining, I want to be flexible.

Instead of lecturing, I want to lead.

Instead of heralding my lesson plans, I want to be transparent about the lessons my students have taught me.

Instead of telling, I want to transform.

Instead of letting bureaucracy discourage me, I want to wave the flag of public education and cheer on my colleagues.

Instead of being an expert, I want to grow in empathy, pursue passion, and challenge the status quo.

Nah. I’m not any expert. And I hope I never will be.

I’m just another learner hobbling along life’s pathway surrounded by so many other learners. Teachers, administrators, aides, plug-ins, librarians, students, cafeteria workers, secretaries, custodians, parents, even politicians.

EVERYONE IS A LEARNER. ALWAYS.

We’re just all at different places on this path. And sometimes, honestly, we education type people wish the other learners would catch up to the learning possibilities. To the truth of what school can really look like. But we have to be patient.

Because waiting time is learning time. And the best teachers differentiate for the others who don’t quite get it. But sometimes that might feel like a lot of people. And too much “hard”. And so much pressure. And all that stress.

I know what I want to say about teaching.

Let’s. Just. Do. It. Together.

Not from sides or parties. But because we’re all people. And we all need to learn. And the process of learning means failure and fear and tough are all okay. When we understand that everyone around us, no matter their color or creed or gender or call — they are learning, too.

Whether we like it or not, we are all human. We make mistakes. We screw up. But, if we want to, we learn from it.

But it’s better when we’re all on the same side.

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Carrie Wisehart is a teacher, author, speaker, joy-chooser, and best day ever adventurer who absolutely LOVES EVERYTHING SHE GETS TO DO AND BE. You can learn more about Carrie, about her book, about her life, and about her newest adventure to a Little House in the Woods by clicking on all the stuff that looks different than the rest of this paragraph.

But please come back. Or sign up to be an e-mail friend. AND LEAVE A COMMENT. Because she loves people even more than a chicken bowl at Chipotle, and that’s saying something.