Be Inspired and Inspire Others

On Friday I had the opportunity to do something amazing…dream big! A few of us spent some time with a gifted artist who uses his talents to help tell people’s stories. We visited schools and businesses. We stopped at a 10 story mural that told more stories than I could take in during the short visit.

Then at the end of the day we sat on a patio and dreamed about how we could help tell the stories of our students and our schools and our district. We imagined how to incorporate reading and writing and mathematics with story-telling and art. Something amazing is going to come from that afternoon. I can feel it.

There is power in helping someone tell their story. There is power in giving a voice to someone who may otherwise be voiceless. It was moving to hear about the young child who was suddenly larger than life when his image was on the side of a building, a permanent testament to the life he is living. A lesson for everyone who sees it.

I was inspired.

Art has power. Dance has magic. Music has wisdom. They teach us about the world and our place in it. They inspire and evoke an emotional response.

I want our students to be writers and readers and mathematicians. I want them to be critical consumers of ideas and deep thinkers. And I also want them to be artists and musicians and dancers and poets. I want them to be inspired and to inspire others.

Let’s not lose sight of the many ways we can help our students tell their stories!