Making a Difference That Lasts: Intention and Attention
As an educator, I have been surrounded by incredibly caring people who genuinely want to make a difference. For years, I have used a simple question as an icebreaker in meetings, an introduction during presentations, and even an interview question: Why do you want to be a teacher, counselor, principal, superintendent, or educator? The answer is nearly universal: “I want to make a difference.” With few exceptions, I can say my colleagues have made and continue to make a profound difference. I could share countless stories of former students who speak with love and wonder about an educator who changed their lives. I also think of my own teachers and the many professional and personal mentors who made a difference in mine. History gives us extraordinary examples: Mahatma Gandhi… the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. … Mother Teresa… Sir Winston Churchill… Florence Nightingale... the Reverend Billy Graham… And, here in North Carolina, Dr. Dudley Flood and Dr. Gene Causby... educational ...
