Dr. Pedro Noguera, currently the Dean of the University of Southern California Rossier School of Education, has dedicated his career to understanding and improving educational outcomes, particularly for marginalized communities. His work highlights the potential for schools to be transformative spaces where students can succeed despite systemic barriers.
The current state of education in the United States is marked by ongoing debates over federal versus state control, the role of standardized testing, and the push for school choice. While these discussions are crucial, they often overshadow the core of what makes education effective: the relationship between teachers and students. Teachers are not merely implementers of policy; they are architects of learning environments that can foster resilience, creativity, and growth.
Teachers have the power to transform their classrooms into trusted spaces without waiting for policy changes. Here are some pragmatic actions educators can take:
Reframe Language, Not Meaning: Teachers can creatively adapt their language to convey important concepts without running afoul of policy restrictions. For example, if certain terms like "equity" are discouraged, educators might instead emphasize "fairness" or "equal opportunities." Similarly, if phrases like "Social-Emotional Learning" (SEL) raise concerns among parents, teachers could reframe these skills as "job skills" or "life skills," highlighting their practical applications without altering their core value.
Model Respect and Empathy: Teachers set the tone for how students interact with each other. By modeling respectful language and behavior, educators can create an environment where students feel valued and heard.
Engage Students Actively: Student engagement is a key driver of achievement. Teachers can encourage active participation by sharing their own learning processes and acknowledging that mistakes are part of growth.
Build Community: Teachers have the power to build a sense of community in their classrooms. By encouraging students to get to know each other and fostering a sense of trust, educators can create environments where students feel safe to learn and grow.
In a system where policies may not always align with the needs of students, teachers remain the frontline advocates for creating supportive learning environments. By leveraging their autonomy to design inclusive spaces, adapt language, and engage students actively, educators can ensure that their classrooms remain vibrant hubs of learning and growth.
As Dr. Noguera emphasizes, the power to create these spaces lies within the teachers themselves, and it is a power that should be exercised without hesitation.
Permission Granted: Teachers as Architects of Trust
Transcript:
"You know, even when the policies in the state and the district are not prioritizing things like belonging and social support for kids, when the classroom closes, the teacher has a lot of power for creating that environment. And so my message to teachers is to use that power. Use the power you have to build that community. Start creating that space where kids can develop a sense of trust in you and in each other, getting to know you because it does pay off. And you can create an environment that is supportive for your students without asking permission to do so."
-Dr. Pedro Noguera