What Resilient Teachers in Urban Schools Have in Common - and what they can teach us...

Patterson, Collins & Abbott (2004) wanted to know why teachers in urban schools, with all the inherent challenges, stick around and manage to cope so well?

So they interviewed 16 resilient teachers from 4 urban districts that reported student achievement equal to or higher than the state average on standardized tests.

This study defined resilience as "using energy productively to achieve school goals in the face of adverse conditions."

After analyzing the interviews, the researchers found that resilient teachers had the following strategies in common:

1. Resilient teachers have a set of personal values that guide their decision-making.

2. Resilient teachers place a high premium on professional development and find ways to get it.

3. Resilient teachers provide mentoring to others.

4. Resilient teachers are not victims - they take charge and solve problems.

5. Resilient teachers stay focused on the children and their learning.

6. Resilient teachers do whatever it takes to help children be successful.

7. Resilient teachers have friends and colleagues who support their work emotionally and intellectually.

8. Resilient teachers are not wedded to one best way of teaching and are interested in exploring new ideas.

9. Resilient teachers know when to get involved and when to let go.

God Bless these heroes for the work they choose to do. Anyone working with children can take note, I think there is a lesson in there for all of us.