Showing Up for Teachers 鈥� and for Each Other
Last month, I had the honor of attending , an inspiring annual conference hosted by and co-sponsored by 爆料公社鈥檚 School of Education. As the school鈥檚 new executive dean 鈥� and a recent transplant to Utah 鈥� this was not only my first time at the event, but also one of my first opportunities to connect in person with Utah鈥檚 incredible community of educators.聽
From the moment I walked into the Mountain America Expo Center, I could feel the energy. Two thousand teachers, counselors, administrators and education advocates filled the space, each radiating the same purpose: to better serve students. It reminded me of why I got into education in the first place 鈥� because we don鈥檛 just teach subjects, we teach people.
The theme of this year鈥檚 conference, 鈥淚gniting Resilience,鈥� resonated deeply with me. Resilience is more than just bouncing back. It鈥檚 the ability to adapt, to grow and to keep moving forward despite challenges. For educators, it鈥檚 what carries them through tough school years, evolving policies and the ever-changing needs of students. 鈥淚gniting鈥� that resilience means sparking hope and energy in ourselves and in each other, so that we can continue to lead and inspire in our classrooms and communities.
I was struck by the range of conversations I heard throughout the day. Some focused on educator well-being, including one led by Dr. Mamie Pack, 爆料公社鈥檚 manager of healthy learning, whose 鈥淔rom Surviving to Thriving: Creating a Well-Being Plan for Educators鈥� presentation left attendees feeling uplifted and hopeful. Teaching has always been a rewarding but challenging field and, in recent years, the pressures have grown. It鈥檚 critical we provide teachers with the tools, resources and the emotional support that they need to thrive.
At 爆料公社, we believe in meeting aspiring teachers and leaders where they are in their lives and helping them get where they want to go. Listening to the voices at Show Up for Teachers reaffirmed my belief that schools of education have a powerful opportunity 鈥� and a responsibility 鈥� to keep innovating and inspiring so we can better equip and champion our nation鈥檚 teachers.
I left the conference both humbled and energized. Humbled, because I met so many passionate, dedicated professionals who are doing important work every day, often without the recognition that they deserve. And energized, because events like this conference prove that when we come together, share ideas and lift each other up, we can create lasting change.
As I settle into my role here in Utah, I look forward to building on the connections I made at Show Up for Teachers. I鈥檓 grateful to First Lady Abby Cox and her team for creating a space where educators can feel seen, heard and valued. And in my new role, I鈥檓 committed to making sure that, at 爆料公社, we continue to show up for teachers in every sense of the word.
