Who You Be?

Posted on February 3, 2012 by The EQ Educator

In our daily comings and goings in our various roles that we play in life, to find yourself losing your identity would not be difficult. As an educator your world can be easily turned upside down with the state of education today. Whether you are a secondary school teacher or counselor, college student adviser, educational administrator or any other role within education, I have found a simple but powerful poem that will allow you to answer the question, ‘who you be?’ or at least show you how to get there. As you read, assess where you are on each and discover ‘who you be.’ The poem is called…

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Help Me Be… by Christine Kloser

Strong enough to be vulnerable.

Wise enough to realize how little I know.

Loving enough to embrace my “enemy.”

Tender enough to be powerful.

Smart enough to realize I can’t do it alone.

Brilliant enough to shine the light of others.

Doubtful enough to know the power of faith.

Courageous enough to share my truth.

Christine Kloser is a Spiritual Guide, Award-Winning Author, Intuitive and Healer whose spot-on guidance transforms the lives of visionary entrepreneurs and authors. Her passion is fueled by her own transformation in January 2011 – when after much success as an entrepreneur – she found herself curled up in a ball on the floor sobbing because she had lost it all. Letting go of the last shred of stability and security in her life was when she discovered her truth. From that place, she fearlessly (and faithfully) went on to create the most abundant, impactful and joyous success of her life in a matter of a few short months! Christine knows how to flip the switch from “broke” to “blessed” and shares her wisdom on how to do that in her complimentary Daily Wisdom Reminders. Go to www.BeyondMindset.com to receive your daily dose of inspiration today!

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Thank you Christine for a powerful nugget. So, did you find out ‘who you be?’ I would love to read your comments.

Experience Counts

Posted on January 25, 2012 by The EQ Educator

Recently I was reflecting on my educational background. I grew up in the inner city (Cleveland, Ohio) in a large metropolitan area, where one would probably imagine the conditions being less than positive for any student to receive a “quality” education. We hear this from all around the country, not short of low performing schools, poor teacher quality, and low student achievement. Given these and other barriers to a “quality” education, what can been done for students who attend these types of schools (or any school) such that they can succeed?

From my personal standpoint, EXPERIENCE COUNTS.

I’m not talking about the experience (i.e. teaching experience) level of my teachers; instead, I am talking about the experience I received from my teachers. As a student, all I knew was that my teachers were teachers. I had no knowledge of their academic credentials nor when they began their teaching careers. What I did have knowledge of was how they made me feel as a student.

Was I challenged? Yes. Did they engage me in the classroom? Yes. Did they show an interest in seeing that I achieve? Again, yes. They (teachers) gave me an experience that will forever be imbedded in my memory. One teacher (Ms. Tressler at the time), in particular stands out vividly in my memory. Here was a woman who did not care if you were growing up in the “hood” so to speak. What she did care about was that you’d better come to class prepared to read, write and participate in the day’s activities. She went as far as telling us not to believe everything she is teaching us but to seek to find the answers for ourselves. Ms. Tressler challenged us wholeheartedly. But she also balanced that with a great deal of support.

Understand, however, this was over 25 years ago. Since then, academic requirements, standards, funding levels and polices have changed. But wait! Isn’t teaching still teaching? Can you give students an experience that will compel them to achieve? Can you challenge students to become high achievers? Can you give students an experience so that 25 years, or more, later they can speak positively of that experience? Continue reading →

A College Degree or An Education: Why One is More Valuable Than the Other

Posted on January 20, 2012 by The EQ Educator

No Child Left Behind. Race to the Top. ESEA (that is, Elementary & Secondary Education Act). Public vs. Charter debates. Teacher Quality. Rising College Costs, etc…and the list keeps going and going and going more than the Energizer™ Bunny regarding our education system in the United States.

We have heard from President Obama that we need to increase the number of Americans with college degrees by 2020 in order to compete globally. A bit ambitious but admirable. It has been even postulated (through research) that individuals with a college degree make, on average, $1 million more in a lifetime than those with only a high school diploma. Given that we have a propensity to measure value in terms of dollars and cents, this data makes a tremendous case for a college degree.

But does a college degree suggest that one has received an education?

My opinion is that a degree DOES NOT mean one has received an education. Can one receive an education by possessing a degree? Oh yes! Maybe!? I know this sounds oxymoronic but stay with me, please.

For those of us who have degrees, it means that our degree(s) have been conferred upon us:

…with all the rights and privileges and honors appertaining thereto in recognition of the satisfactory fulfillment of the requirements of this degree. (Taken directly from one of my degrees.)

Take a look at yours. I’m sure yours says something similar. But does it say that you have an education? It’s implied, but I don’t think so.

What, then, is an education you ask? Facetiously, I have heard that it is learning while putting formal education aside. Continue reading →