Read on Twitter
Confession: At one point in my career, I really desired to be in the “cool teacher” club that I saw here on Twitter. I was drawn to their celeb like status and fan base following. Who wouldn’t want to be loved, admired, & well known by all in your profession, right?
A thread...
A thread...
There were a few I put on pedestals & stood in awe of @ conferences. I wanted to be on their podcasts. I wanted to have graphics w/ my face on them as the “next big thing” w/ the “next big idea.” I blame social media. When I taught from ‘01-‘07 teacher fame never crossed my mind.
I remember my first taste of this “educeleb” life when a conference organizer reached out to me here & invited me to his event. All of these cool EDU tweeps were gonna be there & so was I. I couldn’t wait to be there & mix & mingle w/ these folks. I was in the club I thought...
All of us long to be in a club I think. We want to belong. It’s human I guess. I was never a popular kid in HS, but like many, I wanted to be. Youre probs lying if you say you didn’t want it. I thought this conference was possibly the beginning of my “being popular” as an adult.
When I arrived @ the event, I immediately saw a well know educator, surrounded by his fans. They, like me, wanted to be in his club. The laughed @ his jokes that weren’t funny, they applauded his ideas that weren’t original, & they seemed in awe at every word. Sadly, I joined in.
As the conference unfolded over the next few days, I quickly realized that this EDU that I loved online wasn’t the same in person. He was condescending, he cracked jokes at the expense of his fans, & wasn’t open to any ideas other than his own. His way or no way was the vibe.
I confess, I left with a bad taste in my mouth. Not only for this guy, but for the followers that still cheered and lauded him as the best thing in EDU. It felt weird. It felt uncomfortable. It felt a bit shameful. I was embarrassed that I had been drawn into it all.
A few weeks after the event, another EDU from the conf. was found using my exact work as if it was his own. Yet another strike for these people I had seemingly worshipped online. I felt so betrayed, so confused. I was intelligent. How did I get so bamboozled by these folks?
I’ll tell you how... most of EDU social media isn’t real. Classroom pics can be staged. Only the best work is photographed. EDU philosophies can be well rehearsed & written for display only but not so easily implemented. Public images can be casted in just about anyway possible.
Don’t misread that last tweet, the world is full of amazing educators. I know. I’ve seen them first hand. But most of what we see online is well crafted, branded, & purposefully posted to create a persona of awesomeness. Anything that may go against that isn’t welcomed or shared.
I know this bc I’ve done it. We all have. Being honest about it is the first thing that will save us. The unrealistic expectations that social media is creating in the profession is killing us. Don’t tell me you haven’t read a tweet/seen a pic from an EDU & didn’t feel inadequate
Something else we need to be honest about is the negative effect of the EDUceleb culture. First, I’m not shaming anyone for doing their thing, fine. Do it. But, many incredible EDUs are out there doubting themselves bc they arent what is perpetuated online as a “great teacher.”
What does social media show us is great teaching? Blogs, podcasts, EDU side hustles, conference keynotes & presentations, YouTube channels full of more EDU celeb guests, marketing abilities, graphic design skills, & now the latest fad, TikTok dance moves. Lord. When do we teach?
As a professor of preservice teachers, I see the damage we are doing to the next gwnretikn first hand. They follow all of us on our platforms, and they truly believe that what they see here is what makes a good teacher. I weep.
Yes, it’s incredible to live in the time and space where resources and people are at our finger tips. I would’ve died to have a few moments on Google in 2001 as I started out. But... it has come with a price.
Some in our midst have chosen stages over skill, profit over pedagogy, and ego over education.
Let me be clear, as I stated in tweet 1, I once wanted those things. They lured me in just like many of you. Sometimes they still call. But, as long as my college kids & my teacher friends look to me for guidance, I’ll continue to say nothing is more important that the kids.
Nothing else matters. If anything else pulls you away from them, it’s not good. All that glitters ain’t gold. I hope my college students read this thread. I hope it sticks in their minds and lays a strong foundation into their “why.” If it’s not about the kids, leave it alone. 
Before I wrap this up. Im not being passive here, not talking about/to any person. I may have mentioned my experiences w/ one or two, but that’s not the point. Don’t @ me if you thought I was talking about you. Examine why you felt that way & adjust as needed. Love y’all.
PS... if you slide up in my DMs asking who I’m talking about specifically & dropping names of EDUs you don’t like, you’re not being helpful all the same. The point here is to speak to an issue in the prof. not attack a person. You got beef w/ someone, go to them, not me.
It’s the next day after I wrote this thread. Lots of people noticed it and I’m honestly surprised. Rarely have my words ever stirred this kind of emotion. Mostly positive, some challenges, and one rude guy who thought I was seeking attention by posting. That’s just not true.
After rereading the thread, examining my words, my intent, and my heart, I can tell you what is true. It was mostly about me & my own journey. It’s not unbeknownst to me that I have lots of followers here. I didn’t buy them. I share things & they came. That’s how Twitter works.
For years my edu journey has continued to give me platforms to share. At times it has felt very celebrityish. If you read the thread and get caught up in the “who is he really talking about” you’re missing the whole point. I’m talking about me. Anyone on a platform like this...
Has to be mindful, esp in our prof, of what our posts may be perpetuate. As a college instructor, which I mentioned in the thread, I’m concerned mostly about the new teachers. What they see. What they hear. What is defining good teaching for them as they begin their journey.
The thread was eye opening for me, that I too am still on the journey, and it will continue. There’s a constant ebb and flow of thoughts in my mind. Someone called out my classroom pic and even started a whole new journey of thought for me about what that image may perpetuate.
At the end of all this, I encourage us all to be more reflective of the things a we post, the things we say, and our reactions to it. More people are watching than we ever knew. Stay well y’all.
