My Tribe

I have a secret, a wonderful secret. I am able to see the remarkable where others cannot. Amazing kids are my business. The “custom jobs” belong to me. Those students who are too big for the boxes society wants to put them in.

We rack up more than our share of detentions, visits to the nurse, referrals to the principal, incomplete assignments, and incident reports. In many ways, we are too much. My mission is to adjust the lens and to create a path that makes that “too much” into the incredible. Teaching is no longer enough, I want to lead a movement.

In his book Tribes, Seth Godin shares Senator Bill Bradley’s definition of a movement. A movement has a vision, a relationship between the leader and the members, and “something to do - the fewer limits, the better.” I have the vision, we have the connection; it is time to start building.

My tribe:

The Artist - bringing imagination to life with paper and clay

The Nurturer - building up everyone in her presence

The Spokesman - articulate and passionate

The Teacher - patiently leading another to understanding

The Sage - confident in her knowledge

The Rock - possesses amazing inner strength and endurance

The Dreamer - escape is only a daydream away

The Spark Plug - inspiring action

The Golden Retriever - her presence is accepting and comforting

The Firecracker - energy exudes from him

The Writer - can sculpt with words

The Professor - incredible memory and factual recall

The Parent - recognizes the physical and emotional needs of others

The Humorist - possesses a subtle, but powerful, wit

The list is endless, but I like making the list. I like my gift. I like to see, to lead. This is MY movement . . . this is MY tribe.