Our teachers are operating just as effective leaders in the business world do. They set a vision that most people think is crazy. They convince the kids why it's important to accomplish the goal. And they are totally relentless.
Wendy KoppRead
When school district officials literally laughed at the notion that the Me Generation — this was the label for my generation — would jump at the chance to teach in urban and rural communities, their concerns, too, went unheard. My very greatest asset was that I simply did not understand what was impossible.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote emphasizes the power of belief and the willingness to take on challenges in education, especially in underserved communities.
Wendy Kopp reflects on her experience of being dismissed by school officials when she proposed that her generation, often seen as self-centered, would embrace the opportunity to teach in less desirable areas. Her greatest strength was her naivety regarding what was deemed impossible, highlighting the importance of perseverance and vision when it comes to making a difference in education and communities that need it the most.
Themes
EducationOpportunityBeliefGenerational ChangePerseverance
In practice
Example use cases
A keynote speech at an educational conference discussing the importance of addressing challenges in urban teaching.
More from Wendy Kopp
All quotes →Research shows that whether you are low-income or not, mindset is a bigger predictor of success than academic skills, and how students gain great academic skills and persevere in the face of challenges.
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More often than not, the most effective leaders have been shaped by teaching successfully in high needs classrooms. Because of their experience, they know that it is possible for low-income children to achieve on an absolute scale and understand what we need to do to allow them to fulfill their potential.
Wendy KoppRead
There is a perception in our communities that we have low educational outcomes in low-income communities because kids aren't motivated or families don't care. We've discovered that is not the case.
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In the long run, we will need many more African-American, Latino, and Native American leaders, and leaders from low-income communities, who can bring additional insight and a deeply grounded sense of urgency, and who are the most likely to inspire the necessary trust and engagement among students' parents and community leaders.
Wendy KoppRead
We are working essentially to build a leadership force of folks who will, during their first two years of teaching, actually put their kids on a different trajectory - not just survive as a new teacher, but actually help close the achievement gap for their kids.
Wendy KoppRead
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