What is the purpose of school administrators? Good question. Larry Strauss, teacher and well-known fiction author talks about what it takes to be a first-rate teacher, how and why teachers can fail, and the value of going above and beyond the basics – yes sometimes you have to break the rules to let your students know that, in the big picture, they come first.
The importance of capturing the imaginations of students is critical of course; as a teacher you can be a shining light or a yawner, and we all know which one gets the material across. And, as a teacher, if you are clearly having no fun at all with your subject or your students, are you headed for a fall? You may remember that Larry was raised by parents both of whom are entertainment luminaries, so his ability to be engaging and a little dazzling is a genetic gift. You can see how seriously he takes his career and the fun he is having at it on his Youtube episode.
Candid as he is, he shines a bright and essential light on the duties of the administration. Maybe hard to take if you are an administrator, but, in my own opinion, every teacher should hear this for encouragement and appreciation and every administrator should hear from Larry to keep a grounded perspective on the job in order to be better at it.
His own continuing relationship with a former possibly innocent student now incarcerated for many years is a lesson in the power of writing letters, sending books and keeping in touch during difficult times and what teachers can offer way beyond the classroom. And, yes, he has the letters that will always be a part of his personal history as a teacher.