Ana is joined by Daniela Anello, CEO of DC Bilingual Public Charter School, to discuss how educators can create environments in which they can be their whole selves. Daniela tells her own story of identifying her values as a teacher and claiming the sense of purpose she wanted to bring into her own classroom; and then lays out how she works to incorporate them on a day-to-day basis. She also explains why its important for teachers to take chances, make mistakes, and try again—behaviors should be modeled for students. Ana is then joined by our Classroom Insider, middle school science teacher, Eric Cross, who delves into the importance of "being yourself on purpose" when. you teach.

Show notes:

Quotes:

"I needed to be in a place where I could be my full self, demonstrating all of the identities that make me who I am." —Daniela Anello

"The first step is recognizing your own identity and your own values and the aspects of you that you want to see reflected in the place that you're going to pour your love and heart into." —Daniela Anello

"Change and improvement happen over time." —Daniela Anello

"Go where you're going to grow." —Eric Cross

"If I'm in an environment where I can't be my authentic self, and I know what that is and I know what I value, then it might be time for me to go somewhere where I can flourish." —Eric Cross

"A system is not a person. If you build something on a person, then when that person leaves or gets burned out, your system falls apart." —Eric Cross

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