To be a champion for students, we meet their needs through immediate action. Consistently show up for their demanding life experiences. We must personally take the time to search out students. Go hold a conversation and ask questions about their life and education. Genuinely listen to their stories and react with empathetic body language and words.
Pursuit
Teachers and leaders are champions for kids when we pursue them and build trust. Educators unpack student gifts through conversation. This can be a friendly greeting in the hallway, a deep discussion in class on various topics, or a post-class status report with individuals. Seek to deepen conversation through open-ended questions. Students are humans who like to be heard and allowed to tell their stories. These stories often unpack student gifts. These gifts should then be brought to light.
Reveal their Gifts
Many students are quick to dismiss their talents. They have blinders to their developed gifts and do not continually cultivate them. They do not know what or how to release their gifts to the world for us all to experience and benefit from. It’s the educator’s job to help students to learn to fly. Give them the eyes and wings to take off. Show them how to build confidence and take another step forward. Make them believers in themselves.
Relationship Building
Students are worth the time and energy it takes to establish relationships. Relationships drive a positive culture and make any institution successful. Relationships through family, friends, school, and community build environments where we want to exist and contribute to.
Relationship building transcends all leadership. It is not limited to the educational setting. It rings true in business, family, and community. Do not underestimate the power of asking questions to extract life stories from individuals. It allows leaders to determine where gifts reside. Gifts that can enter the world and bring great value to us all.
Key Takeaways
- Take the time to search out students.
- Teachers and leaders are champions for kids when we pursue them and build trust.
- It’s the educator’s job to help students to learn to fly. Give them the eyes and wings to take off.
- Relationship building transcends all leadership.
If you found How to Be a Champion for Students helpful, check out the youniversalife archive for additional leadership content and how to implement strategies into your area of influence.
