I saw a reel the other day that stopped me in my tracks…but not for the right reasons.
It was a slow-motion video of Keanu Reeves walking into a room, suited up and looking like the badass he is. The caption?
“Me walking into back-to-school professional development, knowing full well I’m not changing a single thing about how I do things in my classroom…no matter what new initiatives my leaders have.”
Cue the laugh track and fire emojis. Except…I didn’t laugh. I cringed.
Because while it might look cool to be the too-cool-for-change educator, what that mindset really communicates is: “I’ve stopped growing.”
And if we’ve stopped growing, we’ve stopped serving kids well.
Let me be clear…I’m not against confidence. I’m not against standing strong in your values or being discerning about what works for your students. What I am against is the kind of professional stubbornness that shuts the door on innovation, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
Let’s talk truth for a minute. Every year, students walk into our classrooms carrying new experiences, facing new challenges, and needing different supports. The world isn’t stagnant, and our profession shouldn’t be either. New initiatives and back-to-school learning opportunities aren’t always perfect (trust me, I’ve sat through the “death by PowerPoint” PD too), but they can offer a spark…an idea, a strategy, a perspective that nudges us to be just a little better for our students.
And isn’t that the point?
A growth mindset isn’t about blindly accepting every initiative or jumping on every new bandwagon. It’s about being open. Open to listening. Open to reflection. Open to refining your craft…not because someone said so, but because our kids deserve educators who are lifelong learners, not just lesson planners.
If your gut reaction to every new idea is resistance…if your internal monologue during PD is “I already know this” or “this won’t work for my class”…you’re missing the point of being in the room. You’re missing a chance to lead. To grow. To impact.
Because here’s the deal: The educators who truly make a difference? They’re the ones who show up with curiosity. They engage even when they’re skeptical. They ask questions. They try new things. They fail, reflect, and try again.
They know that professional development isn’t about jumping through hoops. It’s about showing up for kids—and for yourself.
So if you’re walking into back-to-school PD with your arms crossed and your mind made up, I’m going to challenge you this year:
Uncross your arms.
Unclench your mindset.
And for the love of learning…and your students…be willing to grow.
You might not need a total transformation. Maybe it’s just a tweak. A shift. A conversation that leads to a new approach. But don’t be the reason your students miss out on something better.
This school year, don’t settle for being the “cool teacher” who doesn’t change. Be the impactful teacher who evolves.
Because that’s UNCOMMON!
Cheri