Am I in a Twilight Zone?
“Am I in a Twilight Zone?” I asked myself in my first Crew (Staff) Meeting. Everyone seemed so welcoming, supportive, eager and genuinely glad to be a part of the team. I just knew that after “the new guy smell” wore off, this unbelievable workplace culture would fade. I was completely convinced that once we had reached that point of the year where one might begin to feel overwhelmed, exhausted and/or underappreciated, things would change and morale would suffer. I was careful enough not to attribute this inevitable change to people’s personal feelings but to the stresses that often come with being a member of an educational community. I waited and waited and waited some more.
Over a year of of waiting, I am so happy to say that the day has never come and never will.
My first year as a Full Time Educator was one to remember and I cannot imagine it being anywhere else outside of Detroit Achievement Academy. Everything about the school aligns with my personal values and mindset. The overall goal is to educate students through cunning-edge, innovative methods that are both engaging and effective. EVERYONE on our team contributes to that goal and meets the youth where they are to help them be their best selves. We motivate each other just as much as we motivate the students. We hold ourselves accountable and show up diligently every day, hoping to lead by example and encourage the kids to do the same.
I believe that what is more impressive than the fantastic team, the stellar children and families or even our state of the art, new facility is the commitment to making the youth not just great students but GREAT HUMANS. I love that the curriculum is designed to cultivate the kids in a way that teaches them good character traits and life habits. We are intentional about developing the youth to become the leaders of tomorrow and instill values that they will internalize for the rest of their lives. I am honored to be a part of a team that truly brings about the change they would like to see within our community.
Our school symbol, The Flame, is truly a great representation of who we are. Like a fire, we ignite the minds of our students with valuable knowledge. We blaze trails to create paths for our current youth and many more to come. Lastly, we shine brightly no matter what. Reflecting on that first crew meeting, I never thought my first year would culminate in such a rewarding way. I am, however, so glad that “The Twilight Zone” I entered was far better than I could’ve ever imagined and just the new family I needed!