Dr. Wottawa's Educational Blog

  When was the last time you truly listened to a perspective different from your own? As leaders and teachers, our role is to listen to understand, not simply to respond. I often remind myself of this truth with a saying: "We were born with two ears and one mouth, so G-d wants us to listen twice as much as we speak!" Open-mindedness is at the heart of effective leadership. It requires us to stay calm and present, even when we’re confronted with perspectives that challenge our own. Our task, as leaders, is to "bridge the gap" between differing viewpoints to create understanding and connection. Recently, I worked with a group of teachers grappling with a contentious topic that sparked strong emotions on all sides. Leading a group through this kind of conflict requires more than just keeping an open mind; it means helping others do the same. How do we achieve this? By listening intently—not to prove a point, but to find common ground. As I facilitated the discussion, ...

           Mentoring Is My Jam! I’ve spent years immersed in the world of mentoring, starting with a dissertation focused on advice that mentor teachers would offer to first-year teachers. I loved every second of the work! Along the way, I learned a startling statistic: nearly 50% of teachers leave the profession within their first five years, and the number one reason is their relationship with supervisors. Armed with this knowledge, I realized something had to change in how we serve and support new teachers. This realization sparked a journey that has shaped my career. Over the years, I’ve developed practices and frameworks to help new teachers thrive. At first, I thought these ideas were just "common sense." However, as I like to joke, "Common sense is not that common!" Treat people the way you want to be treated. Support them where they are in their growth. Meet them in the moment. But as I shared my work, people began to tell me I had something special...