What It Takes to be a Great Educator in One Word
Heart
It takes heart to lead. Whether you lead in your classroom or in the building, it takes heart to make the right decision — that always seek to put students first.
It takes heart to give indiscriminate second chances- -understanding that often those who need them most seem the least deserving.
It takes heart to have the courage to stand against those who jokingly disparage students hiding behind burnout and a lack of care for our students, our prized treasure.
Heart makes you pursue your passion and share it with students.
Heart makes you wish you could do more.
Heart Keeps you coming back to those students, those smiles, those books, those emails, those challenges and those sweet, sweet successes.
In one word, it takes heart to change the world.
Lead. Learn. Grow. 
February 5, 2019 at 6:46 am
Just started reading your blog. Love what you said about heart. Bet you’re s great principal. I’m a high school principal as well.
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June 17, 2019 at 9:25 am
Hey Ms. Kinard…this is Mr. Rhodes. The one thing I also admired about you is the awareness to understand the why behind why kids need second chances. As principals were are subjected to negative reactions when we give our children second chances because some wish to only punish and hold on to things days and weeks after they have happen. True leadership in education is always doing what’s right for students first. The main thing is the main thing.
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