With this in mind, knowing, executing and embracing change are three very different things and will define an educator in the eyes of peers and the public.
Some educators 'know' change is happening and choose to wait it out like a stubborn toddler waiting for a snack instead of finishing a meal. "If I pretend that technology is a passing fad and ignore its existence then they won't make me try it," is one way a minority of educators view these changes. While these educators are small in number, they are usually the ones seen by legislators and the media as 'typical' in our schools. Compassionate educators need to empathize with their apprehension while at the same time repeatedly challenging this minority to improve their craft - not settle for what is easiest or best only for adults.
Another group of educators are good soldiers and execute what has changed, however with very little validity or passion. Picture that peer who can recite the passages from the new posters and books but when asked "why" we are making a change they say, "because my evaluation depends on it ... I really am not sure how this is any different than what I've always done it?" Many times these are administrators who are managerial in their aims and just hope to keep a lid on teachers and students while in truth, they are just following the tides to progress their careers. Other times there is a teacher who just does what the current trend and jargon tells them to until their observation window is over. They move the daily activities of some to a new, non-inspiring, status-quo and sadly do not focus on how enriching change can make us all better. There is a lack of a "big-picture" view of how these new shifts in education aid at the community, national and international level. These educators can best be supported through a concerted effort by peers to show them that work even at their 'small' level can affect positive change when combined with passion and their associates.
The last category of educators are those who embrace change and are our most beloved and respected educators. These teachers and administrators view change as a possibility, even those changes which they are uncomfortable with. They are always reading books or articles or interacting with peers while growing and improving their craft. They share these tips and tricks via conferences, coaching models or technology tools like Twitter, Voxer, Facebook, Pintrest, blogging, or the like. Modeling life-long learning is paramount to any curriculum or content you teach and helps students and peers keep an open or growth mindset. These educators will flourish and so will their students and teachers under their tutelage.
So which one are you? By which modality will you operate to achieve educational achievement?
We all need to keep in mind that while change is inevitable in education (and in life), growth is optional. While all of these types of teachers exist I have chosen to lead growth in both myself as well as in the students and teachers I work with. Being an education leader is not easy but is necessary from all educational service providers no matter their years of service. Will you lead the charge of positivity and growth in the face of change?