[Day 1] After the Honeymoon Phase: Maintaining Your Student-Centered Practices ~ Reaffirming Your Why
It's October 1st and the honeymoon phase is OVER so for the next 31 days I will sharing the tips and tricks to maintaining your student-centered practice & I'm dropping a bonus episode of the podcast!
Reaffirming Your Why: Standing on the Shoulders of Giants
For day one of the series I wanted to start us off with the tried and true educational cliche, “you have to remember your why?!
Now I’m not bringing this up to be redundant but to remind us how important it is to hold on to why we do this work because the minute we forget it, we become the teachers we HATED.
So let’s avoid that!
If you are anything like me, you begin the school year filled with optimism and energy. But as the days turn into weeks, and weeks into months, that initial spark can start to dim (and it can happen QUICK).
This is when it becomes important to return to your “why”—the reason you entered education in the first place.
For many of us, especially those of us working in communities of color, our why is rooted in a deep desire to create change, to offer students the opportunities we may not have had, and to give voice to those who have been historically silenced.
Reaffirming and reflection (our guided journals can help you with this) on our why helps us stay grounded in the mission and maintain our student-centered practices, even when things get hard; the students act like they forget everything you taught them, your school leader is stressed out and not helpful, and your to do list is too long to finish— Your why will remind you to prioritize what’s truly important for you and the young people you serve.
For me, my why has always been tied to the legacy of the Black women who have come before me. In this week’s bonus episode of the Black on Black Education podcast, I had the privilege of sitting down with Dr. Donna J. Nicol to discuss the vital role Black women have played in ensuring access and equity in education. From traditional activism to more subtle, strategic movements, Black women have always found ways to challenge institutions and create opportunities for those coming after them. It’s their fight, their persistence, that drives me to continue my work in education, to amplify student voices, and to foster spaces where young Black and Brown people can thrive.
In reflecting on my own why, I’m reminded of Dr. Claudia Hampton, whose legacy is the focus of Dr. Nicol’s upcoming biography. Hampton, the first Black woman trustee of the California State University system, fought tirelessly for affirmative action and educational equity. Her work reminds me that while we honor the past, it’s our duty to use those lessons to fuel our own battles in the present. For me, that means creating liberatory spaces in education—classrooms where students of color can fully express themselves, be heard, and lead the change they wish to see.
As you move forward in your own journey this school year, I encourage you to pause and reconnect with your why. Your reason for being here is what will guide you through the challenging moments, and help you to stay committed to a student-centered approach.
And if you need a spark of inspiration, I invite you to listen to our latest bonus episode, where we delve into the incredible legacies of Black women who have paved the way for us to continue this work.
As Dr. Nicol reminds us in this episode, if we do not learn from our past, we are doomed to repeat it. Let’s learn and reimagine the future of education… together.
Happy Listening!
Listen on Spotify
Listen to Apple Podcast
Watch on Youtube
Resources:
Black on Black Education Documentary: Watch our full origin story on YouTube.
Catch up on the Podcast: Check out our OVER 100 episodes taking a dive deep into the transformative power of student voice and student-centered practices in the Black and Brown community.
Buy ONE OR MANY of Our New Guided Journals: Get your copy for just $12.99 on Amazon. It’s a fantastic tool to help find your way. There is both a TEACHER & STUDENT version.
Contact: If you want to learn more about our Student Action Board, email me at eva@blackonblackeducation.com.
Connect with Us:
Instagram: Follow us @blackonblacked
Website: Visit us at Black on Black Education