So you’ve got to admire the mediocre teacher in that they exist in schools at all. They’re the survivors in the school building, able to withstand crushing district programs, and decade after decade of government mandates to keep on keeping on. If there is ever a zombie apocalypse (or any kind of apocalypse for that matter), find the closest mediocre teacher and follow them.

Being a mediocre teacher isn’t easy.

It’s not clear if the same applies for police officers, dentists, airline pilots, or other professionals, but it seems true for educators.

Most educators either improve dramatically their first few years through a combination of effort, imagination, reflection, and constant professional development, or they leave the classroom entirely.

So you’ve got to admire the mediocre teacher in that they exist in schools at all. They’re the survivors in the school building, able to withstand crushing district programs, and decade after decade of government mandates to keep on keeping on. If there is ever a zombie apocalypse (or any kind of apocalypse for that matter), find the closest mediocre teacher and follow them.

So how does a teacher remain mediocre in the face so much opportunity to improve?

1. Try to please everyone

Parents, colleagues, principals, instructional coaches, district personnel, and your twitter-based Professional Learning Network will often have divergent ideas, agendas, and advice. Do your best to fulfill all of their pleadings and demands, with very little sense of priority. When you’re a teacher, everyone is your boss.

2. Act alone 

In education, as a teacher you are the designer, actuator, judge, jury, and executioner. Instead of merely connecting students and the curriculum with the community, parents, administrators, and district officials, rather act as the spokesperson for it all. Explain district policy to parents. Justify school mediocrity to local business leaders.

Be called to task by news media.

Advocate for personalized curriculum to audiences that won’t understand the need.

Insist on 21st century technology for 21st century learners in the face of budgets that can’t possibly sustain it.

Also, don’t make the mistake of creating a transparent curriculum so that all stakeholders can clearly see what’s happening when and pitch in accordingly. Instead make it all go through you–and verbally if possible.

As the teacher, you’re the focal point, gosh darnit. Martyrs unite.

3.  Keep the learning in the classroom

Dovetailing behind #2, whatever you do, never, ever design learning experiences so that learners and their families naturally work together. Keep the learning in the classroom where it can be measured and verified by an expensive (and resource-sapping) battery of tests.

Read More