Follow Your Passion

This weeks Positive Thinking Thursday is a quote not from someone "famous", but a recent Milken Educator Award winner Josie Igielski. I can proudly say that two of my friends and colleagues have won the Milken Education Award for their excellent contributions to education. Both Deb and Josie are extremely passionate about education. Josie, the most recent award winner (just yesterday) has dedicated the last three maybe four years to an outdoor classroom at Lincoln Elementary. She had a vision for a walking path and a classroom space, so that our urban students could learn about the outdoors through experiencing it. Check out this article to learn more about her.  

Deb has dedicated her career to social justice. As a principal her funding and teaming structures support our value of relationships by maintaining small class sizes through fifth grade and inclusive classes for all students. Staying passionate is not easy. Educators are constantly being blamed for and pressure to solve social issues that reach well beyond our classrooms. We are targeted by politicians as "the problem with education"; therefore, the accountability measures imposed upon us have become more and more overwhelming.  Furthermore, sharing our passion with our students has become nearly impossible because of the required curriculum, standards, and constant testing. However, it is recognition of colleagues like Josie and Deb that remind me me to follow my passion. And it is their example that motivate me to follow my passion. Link up with Mrs. Laffin's Laughings for more inspiration!  What motivates you? And what is your passion?