The Blissful Blogger: Beth B.

This isn't a post telling you who to vote for. It's a post challenging all of us...including me...to think deeper about leadership, community, and our own responsibility. If you're looking for a party endorsement, you're going to be disappointed.  If you're willing to think, grab a cup of coffee and keep reading. Y'all, it's primary season and county election time around here, and let me tell you something... Election season brings out people's true colors. It brings out the best in people who are willing to listen, learn, ask questions, and grow. It also brings out the rough and tumble in people who never make it past the surface. They pick a side, memorize a slogan, share a meme, and call it "research." Now let's get to the question everyone seems to care about. "Beth, are you a Democrat or a Republican?" I cannot believe I'm about to say this on the internet... Neither. Both. Somewhere in the middle. Switzerland with Wi-Fi....

I've spent more time thinking far beyond the surface this summer than I probably have in years. For the first time in a long time, I chose to work all summer. Somewhere in the middle of summer assessments, spreadsheets, IEPs, conversations with co-workers,  research, and questioning everything, I also realized something else.  For the past year I've found myself saying the same thing over and over. "So many people know what to do. They know how to do it. But they don't know WHY." That statement has followed me everywhere. It started in education. Teachers are working harder than ever. They are juggling impossible expectations, testing windows, paperwork, behavior, intervention groups, parent communication, compliance, and somehow they're still expected to create magic every single day. Most are giving everything they have. But somewhere along the way, education became a race. Faster. More data. More checklists. More boxes. Education should never become a busin...