It all started at the NYSAHPERD conference, where the one and only Andy Milne was delivering a keynote speech. As he enlightened the crowd with his motivational words, he shared a powerful thought about being a rebel educator. A few seconds later, I received this text from a rockstar colleague (Jessica Butts) from a neighboring district.
That text sparked an idea, and before we knew it, a logo was created, and we were officially REBEL Health Teachers
A REBEL educator isn’t someone who disregards structure, school rules, or curriculum guidelines. Instead, we are innovative, dynamic, authentic and dedicated to transforming education in meaningful ways.
REBEL educators:
They are Resourceful
They are Experienced
They use Best practices
They are Encouraging
They teach Life-skills
They are Student centered
REBEL educators prioritize students’ needs, challenging the educational status quo. By “rebelling,” we create a more positive and engaging learning experience for our students. We encourage critical thinking, and embrace creativity in our teaching approach.
Why Professional Development Matters
This entire idea began with a single comment during a keynote speech followed by a simple text message from someone who I met through local PD opportunities that she hosts. What a powerful reminder of the need for professional development. When educators come together and exchange experiences, ideas, and strategies, real change can be sparked
PD helps us acquire new concepts, refine our skills, and become part of a community of like-minded teachers.. It keeps us up to date, helps us meet the diverse needs of our students, and allows us to create engaging, student-centered classrooms.
Now, more than ever, we need to navigate the challenges of public education by leaning on each other, sharing our successes, and rethinking how we engage with students. Let’s embrace the REBEL mindset —one classroom at a time.
This microblog post was a featured post in #slowchathealth’s #microblogmonth event. You can search for all of the featured posts here. Please do follow each of the outstanding contributors on social media (including Jess Wright, the author of this post) and consider writing a microblog post of your own to be shared with the global audience of slowchathealth.com
Pair this blog post with the following:
What Divides Us, Becomes Us by Michelle Rawcliffe
Where It All Began: Navigating the Early Stage of Teaching by Andy Milne
Bite-Sized PD by Andy Milne
Have you read the latest Book of the Month recommendation?
#slowchathealth 