You Must Be A "YES" Educator

Years ago there was a Jim Carrey movie titled "Yes Man".  The premise was that for one year he had to say "yes" to everything.  Although somewhat a silly movie, I often reflect on the importance of us as educators needing to say "YES" more often.

When our students throw out an idea to their teachers, peers, parents: is the answer "yes" or too often "no"?  When a teacher comes to an administrator and throws out an idea: "yes" or "no"?  When a principal goes to the assistant superintendent or superintendent? You get the point...

Several months ago, I sat in a room full of educators, and listened to an amazing teacher named Shauna Hawes (@ShaunaHawes) talk about how her principal Dr. Ainsworth (@eanainsworth) was so good at providing "YES" as the answer to her ideas.  Shauna has started robotics (@ValleyViewRobos) at Valley View Middle School (@ValleyViewJags) and this summer ran the first Girls Robotics Camp (@VVMSGIRLCamp).  The girls who attended the camp are below:

                                                    

The take away for me was Shauna wouldn't have felt able to move forward with initiatives that benefited students if not for feeling a "YES" answer would come from her principal when she broached the ideas.  Too often, our first response is: "we can't afford that", "I don't think kids and parents will support that", "I'll get back to you"...  Be a "YES" educator for kids, teachers, and administrators--they deserve it, and the ideas you say "YES" to will be amazing, creative, and worth it!

I was blessed with years of administrators telling me "YES" to my ideas and brainstorms.  I often pitched them as "let me pilot", "I'll find the money", etc.  When I didn't get the "YES" answer, I often waited, and then tried again, slightly altering the idea.  Too often though, I've watched students be told "NO" and teachers told "NO", and even at times administrators denied.  Often, the ideas were creative, cutting edge, and ultimately later were adopted or given the green light.  The hardest part was no real rationale or reason why "NO" was the answer was provided.

The challenge for us all: Be a "YES" educator for kids, staff, and parents.  When you have to say "NO", be sure you explain why, and be sure to create an environment where people will ask again, and then try to say "YES" the next time.  The folks who say "YES" more often than "NO" are happier in life--give it a try!