- Rick Branson
I have been involved in schools all of my life, starting at three-years-old at Acorn Academy in Seattle, (and with the magic of musical education, I can still sing the daily Acorn song) and at each turn I seem to end up writing a statement that begins something like . . . “why I want to be a teacher.” I am not sure that over my 25 years in education that I found a much better answer than my first: “I love school.”
I always loved going to school, and so it made an easy choice for a career path. While the choice of an educational career was easy, I quickly learned the path for success in the career was challenging beyond imagining and yet, satisfying beyond imagining as well. So it has been a path from which I have not strayed. What has changed is that I have found new and different challenges in a variety of schools and in a variety of roles within those schools. In all, learning still fascinates me, and my growth has been from my focus on my own learning to that of a class of students, and then to an entire school. This path has lead me now to Indian Creek School where I can now learn with and from this amazing community.
What happens in a school can fill us with awe. I think we have each had that experience when our children or some students do something in class, on the court, or on stage that was thought beyond their grasp. It is an incredible moment. As a teacher, that is a moment that I long to replicate for each student. I believe as a school leader it is my responsibility to help create a community and organization where that can happen; where the wondrous interaction of a teacher and student, or student and student, makes what we thought unattainable, happen.
It seems also trite to say the The Creek is a special place. But the truth is as plain as that. ICS is a place focused on students and their families with a faculty and staff of truly dedicated professionals. I am thrilled to be continuing my educational journey here and with you. Through this blog I hope to provide you some insights into our school.
Hey, my name is Andrea and I was new last year, and every day I seem to like this school more and more and more. And this is why I like ICS more each day.
Hi, my name is Connor Suplee. I am a sixth grader and I have been going here for nine years so practically my whole life. Every year and every day brings new adventures and new friendships and ones that will last a lifetime. ICS has watched me grow and mature for all the years so have the teachers, but when you leave a grade you don’t leave anything behind. That is why I think returning students and old students always love ICS more and more by each day and each year.
I have been going to this school since I was in pre-K, and I did find that this school is a special school (even though I haven’t gone to any other schools I just imagine what it would be like). I am starting to love school more and more as I get older. I don’t know why but I am…
Madelynn,
Thank you so much for your reply. I turned your statement into a question: “Why am I starting to love school more and more?” I think that is a very important question to think about and to try and answer. Your answer might also tell you a great deal about yourself as a learner. We are all learners, and we are all teachers, so trying to figure out why you are happy being a learner is really important. If you come up with an answer, I would really be happy if you came and told me more about it.