We do not get tired of good Christmas songs. Well, I do not, anyway. I look forward to their repetition each year. On this Christmas Day, here is what has become my traditional Christmas post. I hope you enjoy it.

On many desks and in many inboxes this time of year, teachers and administrators find all manner of remembrances – cards and notes and gifts, tokens of affection and appreciation. Typically, these trinkets and notes do not fully express the gratitude of the students and staff we serve. They are lovely to receive. They are not always reflective of the appreciation our communities feel for us. Our communities typically love us and are grateful for our service.

And, while It is an appropriate time of year for students and staff to thank us, it is an equally appropriate time of year for us to be thankful.

As many of us finish our last-minute tasks, our baking and decorating and preparing, this is a great time of year to think about another great gift we in education are given: the gift of doing work that influences days to come.

Our work reaches beyond us. It reaches through time. It reaches into the future.

We most often do not see ready results. While some of us have been in this work for an extended period of time and we have been able to watch some of the seeds we have planted grow in the lives our students lead after they have left us, we are typically immersed in the day-to-day, the checklist of the moment, the class to come, the next paper to grade.

It is challenging, then, to remember that our reach exceeds our grasp, ever and always. The work we do influences the world to come. It shapes society. It changes the world.

Changes. The. World.

That’s a gift worth receiving. It’s a gift worth sharing.

Today, I have decided to share 55 reasons that fuel my passion for teaching and fill my heart with gratitude. Please forgive the sentimentality, but it is my birthday.

1. Lifelong Learning: The joy of learning never ends, and education keeps me young.
2. Inspiring Students: Watching students grow and achieve their goals is incredibly fulfilling.
3. Ignatian Principles: The values of cura personalis and Magis guide me in all I do.
4. Faith in Action: Seeing students live out their faith through service and kindness.
5. Community: The strong sense of community in most of the Catholic schools I have served is unparalleled.
6. Colleagues: Collaborating with dedicated and passionate educators. I am more grateful for this than I can easily express.
7. Mentorship: I have had wonderful mentors for which I am thankful, and I admit now that I have become a mentor to others.
8. Innovation: Embracing new teaching methods and technologies keeps education dynamic. I cannot wait to get back to the classroom. Teaching a course is one of my highest goals for next year.
9. Tradition: I do not want to be completely bound to tradition like Tevye, but I do value it. Deeply.
10. Former Student Success: Celebrating the achievements of former students as they navigate their careers, some of whom I have been blessed to work with, side-by-side.
11. Parent Partnerships: Working with parents to support students’ growth.
12. Faith Formation: Watching students and colleagues grow in their spiritual journeys.
13. Creativity: Encouraging creativity in the classroom.
14. Critical Thinking: Helping students think deeply and critically.
15. Service: Instilling the importance of service to others.
16. Reflection: The role of reflection in both personal growth and education.
17. My Wife. My Wife. My Wife.
18. Music: Playing my guitar has been a significant part of my career, and a gift.
19. Joyful Moments: The laughter and joy shared with students and colleagues.
20. Literature: Sharing my love of literature and writing and storytelling.
21. History: Teaching the lessons of history and their relevance today, especially for the years I got to team teach a history/literature course with my wife!
22. Faith and Reason: Exploring the harmony between faith and reason. It is there and worth the conversation to find.
23. Problem Solving: I love digging into an issue with colleagues.
24. Resilience: Witnessing and fostering resilience in students.
25. Innovation in Curriculum: Creating and implementing innovative curricula.
26. Bishop McNamara High School: Where the journey started.
27. Family Support: The unwavering support of my family in my educational journey.
28. Student Voices: Hearing and valuing the voices of my students.
29. Leadership: I am humbled to have had multiple opportunities to lead and influence educational practices.
30. Professional Development: I have been to some great professional development and have led some, too (there have been other kinds of PD, both attended and led, but this a list of what I am grateful for!).
31. Retreats: The spiritual refreshment of school retreats and the ways in which they change lives, both of students and of the adults who team them.
32. Student Engagement: Finding new ways to engage students in their learning remains a goal.
33. Technology: There is some really cool stuff out there. Some of it we ought to be using!
34. Jim Broderick King: He must know why.
35. The Facultones: I guess I can never say enough about them.
36. School Events: I have had a lot of fun at a lot of school events!
37. Gratitude: For the gratitude expressed by students and parents and colleagues, I say a humble “thank you.”
38. New Challenges: Tackling new challenges that come with each school year, and each new school. There was a time I thought I would stay at Regis Jesuit High School for my entire career. I am glad I did not!
39. Professional Networks: I have been a part of many professional networks and have learned something from each of them.
40. Mindfulness: Practicing and teaching mindfulness – something I have learned from my wife.
41. Prayer: The role of prayer in school life, and in my own.
42. Academic Excellence: Striving for and achieving academic excellence is a cornerstone of what I want schools I serve to do.
43. Art and Music: “… poetry, beauty, romance, love, these are what we stay alive for.”
44. Sports: I. Love. High. School. Sports.
45. Decorating Classrooms and Offices: My space is so very important to me.
46. Michael McGuire. He must know why.
47. Early Mornings: I love the time before anyone else is in the building. This is my favorite time of the school day.
48. Humor: Central to who I am.
49. Resilience in Crisis: I have seen so many communities stand strong and come back from seeming disasters.
50. Seminars in Ignatian Leadership: What a gift to have been a part of these as a student and as a leader.
51. Collaboration: Not as quick. Not as easy. Very much my preferred style of leadership.
52. Literature Itself: I have read so many wonderful works I never would have had I not been required to teach them.
53. Graduations: The pride and joy of graduation ceremonies.
54. Family: I come from a family of teachers and am grateful to continue the line.
55. Love for Teaching: Ultimately, my deep love for teaching and the profound impact it has on my life.

Here’s to many more years of learning, teaching, and growing together. Happy birthday, dear me. Happy birthday, dear me.

I am an English teacher and always will be. I know that words are powerful. What we name and call things has meaning.

I am currently serving in my fifth high school and each one has had a different name for its professional staff. I find that fascinating. Is an educational group a community, a family, a team, or even a business? 

Calling ourselves a community emphasizes our interconnectedness and shared responsibility. In a community, each member plays a vital role, and there is a collective commitment to the well-being and success of every individual. This term resonates deeply with the Catholic school ethos, where we aim to create an inclusive, supportive, and nurturing environment. The word “community” emphasizes mutual support and aligns well with the Ignatian principle of cura personalis, caring for the whole person, but it might not fully capture the professional and organizational aspects of our work.

Referring to our group as a family highlights the deep bonds and care we have for one another. In a family, there is trust and a sense of belonging. This term can foster a warm and welcoming atmosphere. “Family” conveys warmth, trust, and deep personal connections but understanding ourselves as such can sometimes blur professional boundaries and may not adequately reflect the professional nature of our roles.

Describing ourselves as a team underscores our collaboration and shared goals. In a team, each member contributes their unique skills and strengths towards a common objective. This term can inspire a sense of unity, cooperation, and collective effort. The word “team” highlights collaboration but is it personal enough to encompass the spiritual dimensions of our relationships?

Utilizing the term “business” emphasizes the professional and operational aspects of our work. It highlights the importance of efficiency and can remind us of the need to be strategic and goal-oriented in our efforts. It evokes professionalism and accountability but may feel too impersonal and not adequately reflect the relational and spiritual dimensions of our mission.

Ultimately, the best term for our group of educational professionals may be one that integrates elements from all these concepts. We are a community in our shared values and mutual support, a family in our deep bonds and care for one another, a team in our collaboration and shared goals, and a business in our professionalism and strategic efforts.

I suspect this is why I typically default to “educational community” in trying to reflect the interconnectedness, support, and collaboration that define our work, while also acknowledging the professionalism necessary to achieve our goals.

What we call ourselves matters because it shapes our identity and influences our interactions. Words have power. An educational community has power, too and, hopefully, it is a place where everyone feels valued, supported, and inspired to achieve their best.

Let us consider this post a spiritual successor to my Halloween “Horror of Education” post. Let us also note that, over the past couple weeks, I completed a regular ritual which involves watching Thanksgiving episodes of The West Wing. I am reacting to my late October post with, perhaps, a bit more hope.

This does not change the fact that the current educational landscape calls for a bold reevaluation. We need a complete overhaul of our education system if we are to meet the challenges of the 21st century and stay true to our mission as educators and, in my particular case, Catholic educators.

In the West Wing episode “Shibboleth” President Josiah Bartlet, upon confronting a high school student who believes the President has the power to pardon a turkey declares, “If we don’t and I mean completely overhaul education in this country…”. He is cut off from completing the thought, but the audience gets the direction he was heading. Bartlet’s sentiment remains strikingly relevant today.

For me, the heart of this overhaul must begin with a recommitment to the Ignatian principles that form the cornerstone of Jesuit education. These principles: cura personalis (care for the whole person), Magis (the more), and finding God in all things, guide us in creating an environment where students can thrive academically, spiritually, and emotionally. 

• Cura Personalis

In an age where mental health challenges are increasingly prevalent among students, we must prioritize their overall well-being. This means integrating social-emotional learning into the curriculum, providing robust support services, and fostering a community where each student feels valued and understood. We can no longer simply pay lip-service to this critical need. It is, I believe, our highest priority in reframing education.

• Magis

The pursuit of excellence should not be confined to academics alone. Encouraging students to strive for the “more” in all aspects of their lives, whether in service to others – artistic expression, or athletic endeavors – ensures they develop into well-rounded individuals who can make a meaningful impact in the world.

• Finding God in All Things

Our educational approach should help students recognize the divine in every subject and experience. This involves not only teaching religious studies but also integrating faith into all disciplines, encouraging students to see their learning as part of a larger spiritual journey. We are all on a camino and that journey should inform our educational practice.

Please allow me to take my love of Ignatian Education one step further to suggest that the Ignatian Pedagogical Paradigm (IPP) can serve as a framework for this overhaul. The IPP emphasizes five key elements: context, experience, reflection, action, and evaluation.

• Context

Understanding the unique circumstances and backgrounds of each student allows us to tailor our teaching methods to their needs so that no student is left behind and that each has the opportunity to succeed.

• Experience

Active learning experiences, such as project-based learning and community service, engage students and make education more relevant and impactful.

• Reflection

Encouraging students to reflect on their learning experiences deepens their understanding and fosters critical thinking to help students see the broader implications of their knowledge.

• Action

Education should inspire students to take action to make a positive difference in the world.

• Evaluation

Continuous assessment and feedback are crucial for both students and educators. Period. 

“If we don’t and I mean completely overhaul education,” we risk failing our students and our mission. An overhaul of education is not an easy task, but it is a necessary one. As Catholic educators, we have a unique opportunity and responsibility to lead this charge. By embracing Ignatian principles and the Ignatian Pedagogical Paradigm, we can create a transformative educational experience that prepares our students to navigate an increasingly complex world with faith, compassion, and resilience.

As Meister Eckhart says: “If the only prayer you ever say is ‘thank you,’ it will be enough.”

Thanksgiving is tomorrow and I find myself reflecting on something I have thought about and written about many times before: the countless efforts it takes to keep a school alive. The sheer amount of people power required to open the doors, illuminate the classrooms, power up the technology, learn each student’s name, support the faculty, teach the classes, and coach the teams is nothing short of awe-inspiring. I am constantly reminded of the extraordinary dedication that permeates our schools. 

It is a wonder that everything runs as smoothly and effectively as it does, day in and day out.

In the often crazy pace of school life, it is so easy to overlook the importance of expressing gratitude. Yet, as educational leaders, taking the time to acknowledge and appreciate the efforts of those around us is essential. 

So I am once again asking you to make it a priority to set aside time each week to do something profoundly important: share thanks, liberally.

Imagine dedicating even a small portion of our week to thank those who contribute to our schools. While a full day might be ideal and still insufficient to acknowledge everyone adequately, starting with small, meaningful gestures can have a significant impact.

Think about all the individuals who make our work possible: the maintenance staff who ensure our environments are clean and safe, the administrative staff who keep everything running smoothly, the teachers who inspire and educate, the parents who volunteer their time, the coaches and counselors who spend so much time with our students, and the students themselves who bring our schools to life.

Then, take action. Choose a few people each week to thank. Praise them in meetings, send them an email, write a heartfelt note, or offer a small token of appreciation. A simple card or word of thanks to a custodian, a volunteer parent, a new teacher, or a long-term substitute can transform someone’s day and outlook.

The power of an unexpected thank you cannot be underestimated. Think back to a time when you received a note of gratitude out of the blue. Remember how it made you feel valued and appreciated. Your gratitude can have that same effect on others.

As we approach Thanksgiving, let us commit to making gratitude a higher priority in our schools. This is a perfect time to start this practice. Our awareness of being thankful is very high in late November!

Happy Thanksgiving to you all!