Photo by Tim Mossholder on Unsplash
The prompt was about one takeaway. When thinking about what to write, I kept thinking about my reflection after the conference. When I was at the conference I felt included, valued, seen, and heard.
It felt good. It felt distant.
I have not felt like that in a long while. It felt good.
When we feel included, we’re more likely to take risks, which helps us grow and reach our potential. When all voices are heard, people feel valued and respected. That sense of validation encourages self-expression and motivates participation.
The Head of Inclusion summarized my thoughts to be:
Thomas Hammerlund, our MYP/DP Inclusion teacher, underscored the power of inclusion in encouraging risk-taking and personal growth. He pointed out that when all voices are heard, individuals feel valued and respected, leading to greater self-expression and motivation to participate.
My first draft was a paragraph that somewhat slighted my school. "How dare you ignore others' opinions and not allow outside opinions!"
We are an interesting little school. There are definite cliques and I have heard that some teachers have not felt as welcome as others when they joined.
I wonder how we can start to make that change here so that everyone feels welcome.