Episode 87: Interview with Rick Holmes

Welcome to the Counter Narrative Podcast, a show designed to change the way we talk, and think, about education. By sharing stories of successes and triumphs, we aim to challenge the dominant narrative that often negatively portrays our disenfranchised populations.

I’m your host, Charles Williams. An urban educator for more than 15 years, a current school principal in Chicago, an educational consultant, an equity advocate, and the co-host of Inside The Principal’s Office.

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In this episode, I chat with Rick Holmes, the founder of Relate Then Educate. He is also a twenty-year veteran classroom teacher and former high school basketball coach. Rick has a bachelor's degree in Education and a master's degree in School Counseling. When he left the classroom a few years ago to pursue new adventures, he found that his heart was still with his teacher friends at school. Through Relate Then Educate, Rick and his team work to help teachers see how valuable they are through the stories they tell of their experiences, the wisdom of what they've learned, and the message that they are uniquely equipped to do extraordinary things both inside and outside of the classroom. The Relate Then Educate message is simple, teachers are valuable as human beings first and they are justified in both protecting and investing in themselves.

During our conversation, we talked about shifting the focus from how to do education to reminding teachers about why they are in the field. No amount of PD, or instructional coaching, will reignite a fire within a teacher like asking them about their story. Their why. The problem is, we don’t ask this enough and thus the amazing work that teachers do on a daily basis are perceived as nothing more than mundane tasks. They say that they are “just a teacher.” So how do we shift these conversations and perceptions? How do we encourage teachers to embrace their positions proudly? Well, Rick has a few suggestions for both teachers and administrators.

Let’s dive into this episode to hear what he has to say.

Connect with Rick Holmes!

Website

Twitter

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