To Hear Me Is to Recognize and Respect My Right to Exist: Centering Teacher Agency and Wisdom

• In Event: Research as Whole Truth-Telling: Polyvocality and Collaboration as Necessary Disruptors in Educational Research

Abstract

As an Indigenous, multicultural woman, who entered the profession at the age of forty, I began my journey in the stomach of the elephant. After three decades, in diverse roles as executive director, science coach, principal, athletic director, adjunct professor and place-based science teacher, my journey around this elephant is coming to a close. The lack of collaboration and dialogue between roles begged for action. According to Freire, informed action creates freedom.
Each role I held gave me access to a different perspective. It rendered a more complete understanding of the profession and tore down some barriers to understanding. I understood that each role had a distinctly different language. Everything is hinged on communicating, actively listening, speaking, unpacking conveyed ideas, and revisiting parking lot notes. In urban schools, challenged by systemic stressors, lower resources, higher responsibilities and transitional staff, communication is the breath of the elephant. Post Covid, our leadership recognized the need for staff, students to reconnect with one another as a community. Collaboration between district and building administrators, teachers, parents, and implementation of immersive communications alleviated much added stress in returning after nearly two years.
Each leg of the elephant is a pillar that represents the culture of the school. Our building administrators understood the importance of informed decision making. Our high school students spend long hours at school. Leaders recognized the anonymity inherent in high school systems for many students. The goal to provide every student with a trusted adult in the building was developed and realized because honest communication of child concerns was actively listened to, and used to inform what would work best. The result of collaboration with teachers, department leaders, college liaisons and counselors were an authentic Advisory course. Teachers received quality PD, ongoing support with resources to implement strategies, social-emotional curriculum, career planning and meaningful connection with their teens.
As an educator, research is an important part of my professional growth and development. I seek opportunities to better myself, and share that knowledge with my colleagues. Higher education has an opportunity to transform itself through active listening to all voices, especially those of marginalized professionals and students. Learning to respect one another begins with actively, and deeply listening. Allowing what was conveyed to resonate, be reflected upon, and with evidence, seeking clarity, providing a response that validates the truths shared.
To hear me is to recognize and respect my right to exist.

Authors

• Paula Sizemore, Ypsilanti Community School District
  Presenting Author

• Tiffany D Powell, Ypsilanti Community School District
  Presenting Author

• Debra Stevens, Ypsilanti Community School District
  Presenting Author