"Am I Valued?" with Andy Milne

Dear Teacher, Don't Give Up!

Dear Teacher,

When you got your first job, did you get the most undesirable position in your department or grade level? What about passed up for a position because the other applicant had more seniority? Have you presented ideas at meeting only to get shot down?

If this sounds like you, I’ll wager that you have looked at your situation and wondered, “Am I valued?”

There were many times in my career when I have shared my ideas because I thought they would make the situation at my school better. I would get one of several responses. Sometimes, I was Ignored, but this was rare. Usually I was acknowledged for the idea on the spot, but that's as far as it went--when there was no follow-up, I suspected they did not place much worth in my words. Other times, I was flat out told "no" and given the kinds of reasons that led me to believe that they wanted to maintain the status quo.

Our guest for this episode of Dear Teacher, Don't Give Up! is National Health Teacher of the Year, Andy Milne. He's a teacher at the top of his game! Outside of his teaching duties, he also runs the website slowchathealth.com and is a sought after public speaker. And though he presents as very "put together," he'll be the first to tell you that things weren't always that way for him. For a time, he questioned whether he was a good fit for the job.

Seven years into the job, feeling undervalued at the school where he was teaching at the time, he walked away. And that time away gave him the perspective he needed. He eventually made his way back to the classroom, and he has some great perspective to share about his journey.

If you find yourself in similar circumstances, or you would like some perspective from an experienced teacher, you can reach out to Andy in the following ways:

• Website: slowchathealth.com
• Email: [e-mail]
• Twitter: @CarmelHealth

Ways to Connect:

Also, if you have a story to tell, about a time you considered walking away from education, I want to hear all about it. Here's where you can find me:

• Email: [e-mail]
• Twitter: @makethemmastrit
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MakeThemMasterIt/