Five Steps for Sustaining Your Passion as an Educator
In her article Climbing to a Better View, Relay professor and author Dr. MaryAnn DeRosa likens the teaching profession to scaling Mount Everest—a challenging yet rewarding endeavor demanding persistence and passion. She defines passion as the relentless pursuit of ambitious goals, finding joy in the strenuous effort involved.
Dr. DeRosa acknowledges the current challenges in education, noting that only 4% of U.S. college graduates earn teaching degrees, and highlights the profession's complexities. To help educators sustain their passion, she offers five key practices:
- Critically reflect on your identity and build your commitment. Understanding one's own identity markers enables educators to create more inclusive and equitable learning environments.
- Seek continuous professional growth. Engaging in ongoing learning helps teachers stay motivated and effective in their practice.
- Foster meaningful relationships. Building strong connections with students, colleagues, and the community enhances the teaching experience.
- Embrace challenges as opportunities. Viewing obstacles as chances for growth can reignite enthusiasm and resilience.
- Celebrate successes, big and small. Recognizing achievements helps maintain a positive outlook and reinforces the value of the work.
By adopting these strategies, educators can navigate the multifaceted challenges of teaching, rediscover their passion, and continue to inspire their students.
Read Prof. DeRosa's full article at ASCD.org
MaryAnn DeRosa, Ed.D is a passionate educator with over 20 years of experience working in the classroom as a lead classroom teacher, special educator, and instructional and classroom culture coach. With experience and deep knowledge of practice, Dr. DeRosa designs content and curriculum that builds knowledge and fosters creativity and critical thinking skills within engaging learning environments. She serves as a professor in the Department of Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Learners at Relay Graduate School of Education.
