By Todd Nesloney and Travis Crowder
Success is overemphasized in our society and failure often undervalued and discouraged. Let’s be honest—there is inherent value in failure. When an expectation is not met or a goal is not achieved, a beautiful learning opportunity dwells there, awaiting the moment we can seize it and use it to our advantage. All too often, the weight of disappointment swells within our hearts and instead of seeing a growth opportunity, we see a symbol of our unworthiness. It is here that our personal growth as educators begins.
Both of us have witnessed multiple counts of failure in our careers. Travis has taught students whose attitudes toward reading and writing have barely budged. Todd has worked with an underperforming campus that has seen its shares of ups and downs. Failure is part of this important work we do. At times, we have wanted to wade into the murky waters of despair and admit defeat, frustrated by our lack of knowledge or ability to move those around us. We wish we could say we listened to our own advice each time and used those moments as learning opportunities. Honestly, we can’t. We can say the times we allowed ourselves to be vulnerable and shared our shortcomings helped us grow as thinkers and leaders. And in the end, we became strong, more authentic educators.
Blogging is an essential part of our work with teachers and students. Teaching is replete with stories of success—the home-runs often overshadow the strikeouts. Those strikeouts, though, are valuable places of learning, and if we can find the courage to share those moments, we affect not only our own professional lives, but also the professional lives of those around us.
Through blogging and sharing our own personal stories, we have seen bridges built and walls torn down. When we’re struggling, we can often feel so alone in our defeat or pain. The more you share your journey with others, the more you see the similarities between us all. You see the little fabrics that weave a story not too different from your own.
Now let us be clear: We’re not talking about complaining through blogging or sharing. We all know complaining solves nothing, unless there are potential solutions attached. We’re talking about speaking from the heart the stories that have grown you into who you are.
Is it scary? Heck yeah it is! It’s absolutely terrifying to put your heart out there and share, but we’ve found the rewards far outweigh the risk. As the leader of a campus, when your team sees you as someone willing to be vulnerable in front of them, not only does it bind them even closer to you, but it also allows them to see the importance of sharing your story and will begin to grow them even closer to each other.
The first step is the hardest, but just like jumping off the diving board, once your feet leave the board, it’s the thrill of the dive!
Todd Nesloney is the principal of Webb Elementary in Navasota ISD. Todd co-authored Kids Deserve It! and Sparks in The Dark, and is the author of Stories from Webb.
Travis Crowder, a National Board Certified Teacher, teaches middle school students in North Carolina. He co-hosts the popular podcast series “Sparks in the Dark” and is co-author of Sparks in the Dark.
TEPSA News, May/June 2019, Vol 76, No 3
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