Starting A Movement
“Yes, the shirtless guy was the first one there, but it was the first follower that transformed the lone nut into a leader. […]So we are told that we should all be leaders; that would be very ineffective. If you really care about starting a movement have the courage to follow and show other how to follow.”
We are taught early on that we must become leaders, think outside the box and find the best solutions. The better we become at doing things, the higher our ranking. Not very often are we taught that being a follower takes more courage than being the leader. Serving is harder to do than ruling and the biggest satisfaction comes from giving not from getting.
A few weeks ago I saw come together a prospect that would give a school sustainable tech training for teachers and the 1:1 attention that is craved when learning one’s way around technology. Will Reed, CEO of Technology for All and Mission Milby, and Eddie Hilliard, Tech4All Director of Program Partnerships took the call for technology savvy individuals and reached out for support into the Tech4All community. A group of great individuals was gathered, and together we all took a digital dive into the secrets of the district’s LMS. Using sandboxes from the LMS provider, ItsLearning, the volunteers had the possibility to “play in the HUB” and learn by doing. Today, though just as anxious as I was about the actual meet, they felt confident to impart knowledge and were appreciated by the teachers for their skill.
Today I stood in a class full of teachers during their early release training and talked about the amazing quality of being a follower. I highlighted their own peers who bravely stood in front of them with me, ready to share their own learning. I then introduced to them a group of phenomenal people who readily donated their time to help them learn. They wanted to be there for their every question, to figure out all the answers, because they want to help.
If you wonder what is the secret recipe for courage to give, here’s what I was told today: “I was taught early on to give. It’s easy once you try.”
Today a movement was born. Anyone can be part of it, all they need is the willingness, an occasional 30 minutes, and a little bit of tech skill. The rest is history and about a hundred happier (and savvier) teachers.