IF NOT US . . . THEN WHO

If not us, who?
If not now, when?

Advocacy. The word is defined in Webster's as: "to plead in favor of". In favor of who? For all of us in education, it's for the children. For if we aren't the ones advocating for kids in all arenas, then who can or will?

Let's be frank: advocating for kids is not an easy task. It taxes you mentally and to some degree, physically. It presents you with challenges you may or may not have ever seen before, or perhaps it will lead you to an uncomfortable situation. Regardless, we must have resolve to stand up for kids now and as long as we're in education.

The toughest part of my job, the one piece I go home at night and wonder why, why, why, is the difficult situations I see children struggle with on a constant basis. And I'm reminded daily, yes daily, how important we are in the life of a child and that if we aren't vigilant in advocating for kids in all arenas, even those outside of traditional educational circles, we have failed them. And when it's all said and done and we stand accountable for our life, I want to be able to say I was an advocate for kids, no matter what, whenever it was needed.

We must act now. We must act with conviction that we will not accept mediocrity or let our most at risk kids fail because to do so is unethical. It's wrong. But it takes a team. It takes dedication. It takes all of us.

It takes you!