I’ve been thinking about this for quite some time. What gives me hope? Who (or what) do I need to thank for being so hopeful? Reading the newspaper and listening to conversations around the water bubbler can certainly get you down, but for whatever reason, I’m just one of those people who has always focused on the positive. The glass is always more than half full from my perspective. No matter whether it’s been NCLB, Race to the Top, CMTs, data-driven decision-making, tying teacher pay to student scores, etc., I’m forever hopeful. I truly believe that it just takes one teacher to make a difference. One teacher who cares, notices, recognizes, appreciates and celebrates a student’s gifts and talents. And so, this is what I set out to do every class at Saint Joseph College and what I did as a middle school teacher and principal. I model everyday that I care, I notice, I recognize, I appreciate, and I celebrate the individual gifts and talents of my students.
Here’s my top ten list of things that have directly influenced me and still give me hope to this day…
10. Baseball, specifically the Red Sox and my beloved Fenway Park. Watching games with my dad in the bleachers has instilled a lifetime of hope deep inside of me! 1978 is my most memorable year of baseball because I was penpals with Don Zimmer. I wrote him a poem that year which I can still recite from memory, “Don Zimmer is the greatest of all the coaches in the USA. He fights with the umpires and always gets his way.” He sent back a letter and an autographed ’78 ball. Do you know who was playing back in ’78? Carlton “Pudge” Fisk, Jeremy Remy, Luis Tiant, George “Boomer” Scott, Butch Hobson, Carl “Yaz” Yastrzemski, Jim Rice, Fred “Freddy” Lynn, Dwight “Dewey” Evans, Dennis “Eck” Eckersley and Bill “Spaceman” Lee just to name a few. It was a magical year and Casey at the Bat coined it best, “…hope springs eternal….”
9. When I lived in the Boston area, I always loved when the first duck family of the season made the top story for the 5 o’clock news for stopping traffic to get to the Boston Public Gardens. A smiling policeman stopping traffic to let the family pass without any danger or incident. Recalling it now reminds me of my love and devotion to my favorite city and my love for reading as a child, especially Make Way for Ducklings. The theme is so significant to me that when I was pregnant, I hired a muralist to paint a Boston Public Garden scene for the nursery. I was determined that our son would have a “little bit of Boston” growing up in Connecticut. The swan boat is filled with Beatrix Potter characters and the Velveteen Rabbit is at the helm. Mr. and Mrs. Mallard and their eight ducklings are happily swimming around the boat. When our son was a baby, we would introduce him to all of these wonderful characters on his wall. Each animal would tell a story to him and he’d say good morning and good night to each of them.
8. People watching is right up there when it comes to having hope. I traveled extensively as a child and young adult and airports allowed me the perfect opportunity to observe and study human behavior. I watched reunions and departures. I saw people say hello and goodbye. I observed all of this at Logan airport, as well as airports in different states, countries and continents. Despite language barriers, people around the world say hello and goodbye the same way. I could watch for hours and hours, mesmerized by the lives of people I never knew before and would never see again. I would create stories about the people I had observed. Wonderful stories, rich with details and full of human expression. Watching the human race in such intimate moments has made such a significant difference in my life. When it comes to matters of the heart, language, culture, race, age, socio-econmics, gender, sexual orientation are nonexistent.
7. There’s nothing quite like a New England snow storm or blizzard. Neighbors are neighbors and everyone after a big storm is ready, willing and able to help you shovel out. Some of my best memories as a child happened when everyone was snowed in. I’ve always seen the best in people when Mother nature comes to town. As I write this now, I’m so grateful that I grew up next to Mr. and Mrs. Towle. Their grandchildren became the extended family of brothers and a sister I never had. Whenever they came for a visit, I was included. Mr. and Mrs. T., as I fondly called them always had time for me. I loved playing cards, drinking a “special” (half orange juice and half ginger ale) at their home and putting on shows for them. I even remember calling them when I learned to tie my shoes.
6. Cape Cod and the ocean are my safe haven. I’m at peace on Cape Cod. Once I cross over the Sagamore bridge, life becomes simpler. Neighborhoods are like neighborhoods I remember as a child. They still have old-fashion parades and ice cream parlors (like Four Seas, my absolutely favorite). It’s like stepping back in time. Watching a Cape Cod league baseball game brings you back to the love of the game. The sound of a wooden bat cracking a ball into the outfield, players hustling for the love of the game and announcers that remind you of days gone by. To top it off, you have the National Seashore protected from development. It’s a slice of heaven for me.
5. As a doctoral student at Boston College I had the privilege of teaching at the Campus School specifically on a project called EagleEyes. This project holds a special place in my heart for several reasons. My dad is responsible for bring EagleEyes to the Campus School. He loved Boston College and he loved the Campus School. He would monopolize conversation at dinnertime telling us all the success stories and focusing on everything positive. It was really remarkable to listen to my dad because his students were nonverbal and nonambulatory. You would never know that from listening to his stories because each of his students had a voice. After my dad passed, I was lucky to take his position. His students became my students. It was a tough time for me personally, but having that connection and bond with my dad and his students made me walk eight feet tall.
During that time, two things gave me hope: my EagleEye students and the undergraduate volunteers, EagleEye buddies. Lifelong friendships were established and continue to this day. My heart is forever changed because of my EagleEye students specifically Matty, Krissy, Lindsey and Michael. Week after week, month after month, year after year the EagleEye buddies came to participate, encourage and applaud the remarkable accomplishments of my students. Special acknowledgement and lots of props to Gaby, Sharif, Mike, Pete, Erin, Haven and Kyle (the list could go on and on). Everyday you gave me hope about the future.
4. Some of my teachers (recognized in a previous post, Dyslexic Professor not only gave me hope, but provided me concrete examples of how a teacher really does affect eternity. I have modeled myself as a teacher educator full of hope and compassion because of you. Because of you, I take the time to recognize and appreciate the gifts and talents of each and everyone of my students. I also have tremendous hope teaching teachers. Everyday I witness undergraduate and graduate students in the SoE making a difference in the lives of children. I’m inspired everyday by teachers who do not accept the status quo and encourage their students to love learning.
I’d be nothing without my middle school students. I acknowledge my students from South Middle School and Blake Middle School through the years and the influences they have made on my teaching career. You remind me why I wanted to be a teacher. Thank you for the lessons you’ve taught me and for always reminding me of hope!
3. My family means the world to me. My mom and dad are the reason why I have always been and will always remain hopeful. They instilled a love and passion for learning. They modeled it and they lived it. I’m lucky and honored to be their daughter.
2. My husband is extraordinary. He lives his life with such pride and dignity. He has never looked at the glass half empty even though he is hard of hearing. The world can be a cruel place, but you’d never hear my husband say that. He thinks of his hearing loss as an inconvenience not a disability. Can you imagine if more people adopted this philosophy? He is my hero and I’m so proud that our son will learn such compassion and humanity from his dad.
1. My son is such a remarkable individual. I’m not just saying this because I’m his mother. He is curious about the world. He is an adventurer. He loves dinosaurs, his blaney, cooking, art, and books. He’s funny. I mean, really funny! He’s determined and focused, nothing deters him. But more importantly, he is kind. He is thoughtful and kind. He loves babies and is so gentle. How did I ever get so lucky to be his mother? He gives me the most hope of all!
The overarching theme is relationships. Relationships to people, books and places. I see the strong connection to neighbors and community. As I continue exploring social media, my PLN will become part of my inner circle and I’ll need to revisit this list! My question for you, for now is what gives you hope?
you engage, model and teach empathy and perspective early and often in our classrooms?
Recently, the controversy around the 
