#RuralEdChat is a chat that focuses on the needs of the rural educator. This chat has been revised by Tammy Neil (@MathNeil), John Martin (@edventures) and Natalee Stotz (@nataleestotz).
Hi #RuralEdChat Tuning in from Wisconsin. Former classroom teacher & school librarian (16 yrs). Currently working in outdoor ed, teacher wellness, mindfulness. Back in grad school studying mental health counseling
Our first question will drop in just a moment. We will use the Q1/A1 format until a conversation breaks out. Don't forget to add #RuralEdChat to your tweet so we can all share your brilliance.
Peg, Instructional Coach/Reading Specialist, from MKE. Hello #ruraledchat
A1 Trust is when I fail and you help me get back on track. Not talk about how I failed to others.
A1: It's such a base word for me that I have trouble putting it in other words. I think a combination of honesty and reliability get to the core of it. #RuralEdChat
New to #RuralEdChat, but have lived and taught in both suburban and rural districts. Currently studying #inquiry and at #PennState. Looking forward to thinking and learning with you!
New to #RuralEdChat, but have lived and taught in both suburban and rural districts. Currently studying #inquiry and at #PennState. Looking forward to thinking and learning with you!
#RuralEdChat Reliability, consistency, being true-to-ur-word & copping to it when you aren't or you drop the ball. I have moments of "Hey, I know I said this 1 thing, but this other thing happened. Let me explain & apologize." 2nd graders are great. I always hear, It's OK Ms. H.
#RuralEdChat A2: For me trust is about the relationship between myself & others so in the case of my colleagues I build trust through my actions and base my trust in others on theirs.
A1. Trust is about active recognition of another person's humanity and listening + responding with that awareness in mind to create a mutual, shared space. #RuralEdChat
A2: Trust uis necessary bcz when u trust, you dont spend time worrying abt things--you are free to create & try things the best you can without fear. #ruraledchat
A1. Trust is about active recognition of another person's humanity and listening + responding with that awareness in mind to create a mutual, shared space. #RuralEdChat
A2: my colleagues are one of my best sources of feedback. They see me in action way more than admins, can provide non-evaluative feedback, and don't have to worry about a bad grade in my class. #RuralEdChat
#RuralEdChat OMG. Huge. It's the foundation on which you build your practice. I'm so lucky. Small school. Staff = family. I found out I had melanoma & in a millisecond I had hugs, coverage, a ride to the doctor, follow-up. & complete confidence.
#RuralEdChat I see in-fighting elsewhere & count my blessings. Big impact on RETENTION. We're one of the lowest paid around & we don't go because we know there's a value to the comfort we feel here & a cost to the discomfort elsewhere. We comment on that often.
Critical b/c it builds sense of safety - a basic human need from which all other convo is possible. Built through little things - small talk, showing interest, validating others' experiences. #RuralEdChat
school & district leaders must model trust in act trustworthy to facilitate Tchr trust. But also can facilitate collaboration and guide tchrs thru collaboration that builds trust #ruraledchat
#RuralEdChat We joke that one of the teachers in our group is like a lioness in interviews of potential hires. She wants to protect our dynamic and hire fit-ins.
I think there's something of a coach and a team dynamic between admin and teaching staff. Admin needs to trust that teachers will work things out and champion the strength of the bonds that will result. #RuralEdChat
A3. Admin hires professionals and gives them space & freedom (trust) to do their jobs. Communicates openly and demonstrates understanding of the context. Creates time & space for genuine collaboration around issues teachers find important to improve student learning #RuralEdChat
#RuralEdChat There has to be a balance of debits & credits. Teachers cover yard duty for me because I've had multiple melanomas, but there is no simmering resentment building up because I've "paid into the system" by helping them w/tech, events, or other things I can contribute.
A4. #1 rule - assume positive intentions & approach conflict w/ a smile. I make the effort to follow up & follow through on all promises I make. Try hard not to drop the ball, & admit fault when I screw up. #RuralEdChat
A5: a lot of freedom in classroom practices, and room to try things that don't always work. Plus, I'm only a volunteer in one class a day, so me being there at all is a lot of levels of trust. #RuralEdChat
#RuralEdChat A5: They accept my decisions even when there may be a question of their outcome. Which isn't to say they don't challenge me beforehand, but they stand behind me moving forward.
A5 I'm thinking of a collab teaching experience where I had ideas that took things in a different but ultimately meaningful direction.
Partner teacher was skeptical but trusted my vision. We forged a deep friendship. I learned to lean the other way, too. Mutuality. #ruraledchat
A4. #1 rule - assume positive intentions & approach conflict w/ a smile. I make the effort to follow up & follow through on all promises I make. Try hard not to drop the ball, & admit fault when I screw up. #RuralEdChat
#RuralEdChat I've seen admins B part of the problem. I've seen admins shutout by teachers who circled the wagons & took care biz. I've currently got a former teacher for my principal & we adore her. She'd take a figurative bullet for us, and maybe a real one - she carries a lot.
A5 I'm thinking of a collab teaching experience where I had ideas that took things in a different but ultimately meaningful direction.
Partner teacher was skeptical but trusted my vision. We forged a deep friendship. I learned to lean the other way, too. Mutuality. #ruraledchat
Admin can play a critical role. If admin isn't trusting, if it has faves the system will break down. If admin is too trusting, it will break down. Words / intent matter #ruraledchat
A5. Great ed leaders have given me space and resources to be creative within clear but flexible guidelines. Bad ones micromanage and nitpick. #RuralEdChat
#RuralEdChat Brings to mind the fact that sometimes we need to address those insecurities, bring them out and talk them through so they don't erode relationships.
#RuralEdChat One of the things I love about my principal is that she does not just put up with my outlierliness/wackiness, she doesn't tolerate it or support it, she revels in it. She's a total "Ha! You do you. You go, girl," kinda admin. Just the way we are with our kids.
#RuralEdChat Now THAT's a challenge. Especially if they have been ingrained and unsuccessfully addressed for years. We could have a while #RuralEdChat night just on that alone. You could moderate.
@TG_Neil A6. Lack of follow through is number one reason. Throwing under the bus when we worked as a team. Talking w/o actively listening. #RuralEdChat
Argh. The nitpicking and micromanaging are big dealbreakers. Plus, they foment weird allegiances and jockeying for acceptance--all things that erode trust. Big time. #RuralEdChat
I don’t know if other small schools/districts are like this, but when it comes to trust my colleagues at work and I have give each other grace. We can tell each other our struggles and celebrate the success. They are my family. Is this common at small schools? #RuralEdChat
1 of our big things is speaking our minds, calling out bullshit, walking it off moving on. People here often say things like, "You looked like you did not like X." "If I did not like X, I would have said 'knock X off. What the hell you doin'?'" So we're cool. Next! #RuralEdChat
A7. I teach online. Big part of this is being present and active. No hallway or water cooler chats to build rapport. Have to be all the more intentional, active in the online context, & prompt in replying and feedback. Consistency is crucial. #RuralEdChat
A7 (Just popped in) Same truths as A6. Trust is built by not backstabbing, by honesty (if there's a prob, talk directly), & by offering an ear. Also, occasionally, a link to a funny meme. 😉 #RuralEdChat
I don’t know if other small schools/districts are like this, but when it comes to trust my colleagues at work and I have give each other grace. We can tell each other our struggles and celebrate the success. They are my family. Is this common at small schools? #RuralEdChat
The Black Hole. One teacher's room we all go into & don't come out of because we're chattin' so much. Fun & informal, but real sh!t gets worked out in there too. #RuralEdChat
Right on! In the burbs, I commuted out from the city. In rural dist, I walked to school past student houses. They see me walk the dog, etc. #RuralEdChat
By telling me too much! Stop that! Actually, I see trust in me when I'm asked to help with tech & people show their vulnerability & insecurity in after-school one-on-ones where I show them how to do techie stuff. #RuralEdChat
Conflict, if handled directly, can be very good at building trust. If only everyone's comfortable enough in making & admitting mistakes together. And brainstorming together. And trying again...together. #RuralEdChat
Seriously, people. This town is SO small. You gotta work stuff out because it's like being in the same family & living in the same house & Thanksgiving is coming & you gotta deal. Everybody knows everybody & nobody's going anywhere, so you might as well work it out. #RuralEdChat
I am so thankful for the answers you've all shared tonight. Trust between colleagues is very important. If we can't trust each other, how do we get our students to trust us?
#RuralEdChat
I'm the city girl transfer in to this rural little town. We reference "Northern Exposure" a lot & they take great pleasure in trying to freak me out by inviting me to "process" turkeys & stuff like that. I learned there is such a thing as an ornamental chicken. #RuralEdChat
#RuralEdChat Trust begins, and ends, with me. In the decisions I make, in the words I utter, in the things I do. There's an old Navy saying that one oh $h!t knocks out 10 attaboys. Every moment is an opportunity to reinforce or to shatter that trust. Let's build!
Best wishes to you all for the week. Thanks for letting me pop in. As a writer for education & folks with t1d, I'm big on trust. We may fear, but we must rely each other. We're stronger together! #RuralEdChat
And you know that incredibly good bit of wisdom about not adding parents & students to your Facebook? Yeah, that sh!t don't play here. Roll over & take the friend request. Then go to Twitter, Snapchat, & Instagram & play there. #RuralEdChat
A8. Give them space. Be collegial and keep classroom doors and ears open. Smile and keep trying. Remember to put the kids before our personal issues. #RuralEdChat
