The Dream

I had the strangest dream. I was sitting with two men in suits and they leaned in to ask me all about an acquaintance of mine and how effective I thought she might be as the manager of a new movie theater opening downtown. None of this makes logical sense, but in the dream, of course, it was the most normal interaction in the world. As I explained how and why she would be a great fit for the position, they nodded and took notes. They looked me in the eyes and thanked me profusely for my input. When I awoke from the dream, a feeling of happiness and pride lingered from this seemingly inconsequential nocturnal interaction.

Why? It was all in their eyes. The way those two VIPs looked at me said, “We think you’re smart. We value your ideas and contributions. You’re saying things we hadn’t considered. We need you.” I recognized that look from my early years in teaching. The years when higher-ups referred to me as “a real crackerjack” and “a natural.” I remember how treasured I felt in those moments. As a veteran teacher, those moments are fewer and further between. The principal who hired me, the one who was excited about my potential, is long retired. The established teachers who knew me “when” have also left. The dream reminded me how much I need that look, the validation that I’m bringing something to the table.

Alas, all is not lost. I have had a few promising moments in recent memory. One happened when I was in our town’s bakery with my Minds in Motion class, a student-inquiry elective I designed. A professor from a local community college stepped in line behind my students who were ordering cookies before we resumed our tour of historical markers in our small town. She asked what our class was doing “out on the town” during the internal school day. As I described the class and how I model the student inquiry approach while we research our local history, I saw it– the look. She tilted her head, studied me, and said, “Now that sounds like real learning.” There it was–the look!

So I have a new goal for 2024. I will be chasing my dream, the dream where I get more of that look. I can’t wait to see where it takes me!