Be a "Spartan" Educator!

Be a "Spartan" Educator

This past weekend I ran the Spartan Race in San Francisco at ATT Park.  I ran with "Team Bubba" which consisted of 5 people pictured above.  I hadn't trained much compared to my teammates.  A couple of them are die-hard UFC gym rats, and the other two work-out regularly.  As a former PE teacher and avid exerciser, I felt like I was "good to go".

When I arrived, the stadium look great! I love ATT Park, and love going to Giant's games.  I saw runners carrying bags up in the top bleachers, ropes course stuff throughout the park including outside the park, and overall a whole lot of "fit" people.  I was pumped and feeling the adrenaline kick in, which is a feeling I love!

As the race got started, I felt great: first running down the stairs to the field level, then into the dugout, then into the home team's locker room (which was awesome) where we dropped and did 20 push-ups, with the added feature of lifting your hands off the ground between push-ups.  Then it was off to the stairs and to the top of the stadium.  This was the point where I felt the lack of cardio prep start kicking in; however, being a "tough guy" I kept full speed ahead.

Over the next 45 minutes or so, our team conquered 20 obstacles including 10 foot walls, ropes challenge course items, and various other challenges.  Throughout, we were running up and down stairs in the bleacher sections, up and down the ramps in the stadium.  I was dripping with sweat, tired, winded, and muscles were hurting.  One of my teammates was starting to lag, and we encouraged each other on.  We gave the girls a boost over the walls, and did "burpees" (dropping down and doing 30 push-ups, but between each one, you jump up with your hands up high) to help teammates out when needed.  As a team of 5, if someone was struggling, we could each do a few extra for them, to make sure we hit the intended number for our team at the various stations.

As we headed the last few feet towards the finish line, we all held hands as a team and made the last dash as a TEAM across the final line to have medals placed over our heads.  We had completed the challenge as a team: we encouraged each other, pushed each other, and physically helped each other from start to finish.  Minutes later as we sat in the stands eating bananas and drinking liquids to re-hydrate, we talked about the teamwork, perseverance, and fun we had as a group.  We were Spartans, we had conquered and hadn't quit.

Applying my experience doing this race to education, there were 3 lessons I was reminded of:

1) Never give up!  No matter how hard, how challenging, or tough.  As an educator, I fight for my students.  They ARE part of my team.  I don't quit doing what is best for them and continually challenge myself and challenge others to keep fighting for our kids.  My friend Adam Welcome is a great example of an educator who always keeps "pushing" for kids sake.  Adam recently co-founded #kidsdeserveit which is all about centering everything we do as educators for, and on kids. Try new things on regular basis with your students and model that risk-taking is not only ok, but encouraged!
2) Teamwork (collaboration) as educators is the ultimate way to succeed for our kids! Social media is a great way to collaborate when it can't be face-to-face.  Tools like Twitter, Voxer, and even simply text messaging and Face-Timing are so easy and quick to do, and SO powerful.  Karly Moura is a teacher who exemplifies working with teammates.  She creates hyperdocs she shares virtually, hosts Twitter chats, and in general, shares her work openly to anyone who will connect.  IF you haven't followed her or connected with her, do so!
3) Try Something New: Having done a half marathon, the Running with the Bulls, the Merrell Down and Dirty, and many other events that push your physical and mental limits, I've always had the mentality I'll try anything once, and see what sticks and what I like.  So too it is with education.  You HAVE to keep trying new things that engage our students, are relevant for them, and ultimately allow them to be challenged, fail, take risks, and try again.  This was my first Spartan Race, and I had to try it when friends said, "let's do it".  A teacher who continues to keep trying new things is Shauna Hawes who constantly is trying new things out.  Whether it is Linkbots, drones, Rasberry Pi's, or new forms of coding, Shauna is always trying new things, buying new things, and spreading her findings with colleagues 24/7 (literally).  When you have people like that you are working with, it motivates you to challenge others and yourself!

In the end, being a Spartan means being willing to fight to the death and never quit.  There were moments where I was ready to stop running and walk, I thought of skipping an obstacle, but refused to do so.  As an educator, I challenge each and every teacher, administrator, staff member, and parent to NEVER QUIT fighting and working for your kids to have the opportunities they deserve.  Be a Spartan!!