Great Collaboration

“There is a tremendous need for trust in a really great collaboration.” Keyboardist Jeff Johnson was speaking about his partnership with Phil Keaggy, one of the most admired guitarists in the world. They’d worked together to create a musical response to the beautiful Frio River in Texas.

Jeff went on to say that he and Phil enjoyed each other, trusted each other, and were willing to try things. Their collaboration was marked by a willingness to respond to each other’s ideas and vision.

I can’t help but think about how this applies to educators. Some of us work on teams that collaborate well together, each member making the others stronger. Some of us are fortunate to have coaches and/or principals in our buildings who lead, instruct, inspire, and encourage.

If we aren’t fortunate enough to work in a climate like that, we may have to find our kindred spirits elsewhere. I’ll never forget visiting Gail’s classroom many years ago to learn about the different way she had organized her literacy block to ensure students had time to read and receive exquisite personalized instruction. I felt like I’d found my literacy soul mate. Since then I’ve continued to learn and grow from Gail and other literacy leaders who have mentored me, pushed my thinking, and inspired me to take risks and try new things.

If we are going to be the best we can be, we need powerful collaborations. We need a clear vision that is in sharpest focus, and then we need to make sure every action and activity in our classrooms matches that vision.

I’m reminded of the quote “Vision without action is merely a dream. Action without vision just passes the time. Vision with action can change the world.” (It’s been attributed to both Joel Barker and Nelson Mandela. I’m not sure who said it first, but it’s a great quote.) If we commit to great collaborations with people who share our vision, we can absolutely change the world one student, one classroom, and one school at a time.

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