Holding onto the "Jar Moments"

"I just thought to myself, if I could just bottle this moment up, just to pull out on a rainy day to remember that joy -- [My students] have a way of inviting all of us into something really, really special."

Featured guest: 

Chris Williams, MEDL, Intervention Specialist, Columbus City SchoolsCheck out Chris' blogFollow Chris on Twitter"This is my 6th year as an Intervention Specialist in Columbus City Schools. I am passionate about students and the issues that impact them most. They teach me so much about joy, resiliency, and how to live wholeheartedly. I am especially proud of the job they have done learning through a pandemic, and their families have been the unsung heroes throughout this past year! I am also a Member Ambassador for Ohio's New Educators (ONE), a statewide network within the Ohio Education Association that supports early career educators."

In this episode:

"The students are always the equalizer. They have a way of grounding me... It's been a crazy year for everybody, but they have persevered and I'm proud of them." 1:35 - Hanging in there 2:15 - Leaning on families as educators navigate the COVID-19 pandemic and appreciating the value of the parent-teacher partnership3:40 - Working with students with orthopedic impairments and complex communication needs and seeing them continue to learn even through the challenges of remote instruction6:15 - Using the "jar moments" to maintain passion as an educator7:20 - Keeping a journal to remember the moments that sustain you8:15 - Creating a jar moment: The collective joy of one student's birthday party as a full family affair"I just couldn't believe how lucky I was to be in that space and say I am his teacher."10:40 - Sharing the story of one student, who is a refugee from Somalia, with the State Board of Education to advocate for students and public education12:45 - Owing students your best every day 13:20 - Learning lessons from students and forming impactful connections14:30 - Advice for staying present in the jar moments: "What do we get to do today"15:45 - Working through a year filled with grief and loss while staying present to what is here right here and right now16:30 - Continuing to fight for racial and social justice18:30 - Finding inspiration in other educators - "Even when we're feeling burnt out or tired, there are always people to pick you back up."19:15 - Passion is contagious"School buildings are such sacred places, and so many stories are colliding and so many experiences are coming in, and they really should be places where we give students everything they need and more."

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About us:

The Ohio Education Association represents more than 120,000 teachers, faculty members and support professionals who work in Ohio’s schools, colleges, and universities to help improve public education and the lives of Ohio’s children. OEA members provide professional services to benefit students, schools, and the public in virtually every position needed to run Ohio’s schools.Education Matters host Katie Olmsted serves as Media Relations Consultant for the Ohio Education Association. She joined OEA in May, 2020, after a ten-year career as a television reporter, anchor, and producer. Katie comes from a family of educators and is passionate about telling educators' stories and advocating for Ohio's students. 

This episode was recorded in March, 2021.