“Knowledge comes in contrast.” Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
I attend a weekly breath work and meditation class hosted by a colleague who is trained by the Art of Living Institute. He shared this quote in the context of helping us understand innovation and the strategy of stepping away from the work to meditate, clear the mind in order to make new discoveries.
I immediately thought of my colleagues LouAnne Metzger and Frances Knight Thompson, two innovative education leaders who happen to be retired. These two amazing women are in the process of building a learning community of retired educators, eager to serve the field of education.
Retired educators have a huge impact on my life as a current, practicing, mid-career educator. I was lucky enough to have been “raised” in my first teaching job by talented, experienced and wise educators and have been drawn toward late-career mentors since. There is something attractive to me about the idea of deepening wisdom, honed over time, that gives an experienced educator the power of discernment. Their hair is rarely on fire (a common phrase in K12 schools used to describe people who react to every crisis), and when it is, you know to pay attention!
Now I’m thinking about the contrast between a late-career educator and a retired educator. The transition to retirement for a career teacher is not always easy. They spent 13 years in school, go on to college to train to be a teacher (also school), to return to schools for 30+ years of their career. Leaving the academic calendar and the community of a school behind can be difficult. But past that transition comes knowledge, knowledge borne from contrast. The quiet return (or welcome for the first time!) to the community outside of school, as spouses, volunteers, grandparents, neighbors and friends, can sometimes bring clarity and a powerful sense of purpose.
As our Edjacent colleague and retired educator Deb Straus says, “I’m not done yet!” This sentiment is often a reason retirees are drawn toward Edjacent. Arthur C. Brooks, in the book From Strength to Strength, calls this “crystalized intelligence”. After reading the book, LouAnne and Frances would love to partner with you to leverage your crystalized intelligence to serve your community and create a satisfying sense of legacy.
Are you a retired educator eager to serve? Or do you know a retired educator that you could share this message with? We have just the people for you! Join us October 31 for a lively, engaging, and stimulating conversation about From Strength to Strength and YOUR next steps as an educator, as you reconnect with your purpose and passion for education. You’re not done yet!
