The episode elucidates the critical necessity for educators to be afforded opportunities to shine, as many capable teachers remain benched due to inadvertent gatekeeping within school cultures. It is posited that the suppression of educator potential stems not from a lack of talent, but rather from a systemic failure to recognize and utilize the myriad skills present within the teaching staff. Through the powerful metaphor of a "benched player," we illustrate how access to opportunities can significantly enhance a teacher’s identity, confidence, and leadership capabilities, ultimately enriching the educational environment. When schools cultivate a culture of trust and empowerment, they not only foster individual growth among educators but also catalyze transformative changes within the institution itself. This discussion serves as a clarion call for educational leaders to actively seek and nurture hidden talent, ensuring that every educator is given the chance to thrive.

In a thought-provoking exploration of the educational system, Nicholas Kleve, known as Mr. Funky Teacher, emphasizes the critical need for schools to foster environments that allow teachers to fully realize their potential. The podcast episode titled 'Untapped Potential: Why Teachers Need Opportunities to Shine' scrutinizes the often-unintentional gatekeeping that occurs within school cultures. Kleve draws a compelling parallel between educators and benchwarmers in sports, illustrating how talented teachers are frequently overlooked, not because of their abilities, but due to a lack of opportunities to engage in meaningful roles.

Throughout the dialogue, Kleve articulates the transformative power of trust and empowerment in education. He posits that when teachers are granted responsibilities, they experience a profound shift in their professional identity, leading to enhanced morale, creativity, and a decrease in burnout rates. This episode challenges educational leaders to reflect on their practices and to actively seek out the hidden talents within their staff. By inviting diverse voices into leadership discussions and providing platforms for innovation, schools can cultivate a thriving culture that ultimately benefits both educators and students. Kleve's insights serve as a potent reminder that every educator possesses the potential to shine brightly; what is often needed is a simple invitation to do so.

Takeaways:

• Many exceptional teachers remain unrecognized due to unintentional gatekeeping within school cultures.
• Opportunity serves as a catalyst for transforming the identities and confidence of educators.
• Empowering teachers with leadership roles significantly enhances school morale and overall culture.
• A thriving educational environment is fostered when teachers are invited to share their talents.
• The potential of many educators is often overlooked due to preconceived notions and outdated labels.
• Creating spaces of trust and support leads to increased teacher retention and improved student outcomes.

Links referenced in this episode:

• beafunkyteacher.com

Companies mentioned in this episode:

• Be a Funky Teacher
• Winnebago public schools

Yeah, he's Mr. Funky.

He's Mr. Funky Teacher.

Mr. Funky Teacher inspires greatness.

Makes you feel good.

Like your favorite playlist.

Keeping that fresh and funky.

Yes, he does.

He got some funky cool ideas to share for all you teachers.

He can empower others, students and teachers.

It's all about hard work and creativity.

He brings out the kindness in everyone.

He's got the passion to teach.

You hear it when he speaks.

He knows how to build strong relationships.

If you're seeking the best bunkiest, he is it.

He will empower you to improve.

You'll be helping others and loving it too.

He's Mr. Funky Teacher.

Yeah, he's Mr. Funky Teacher.

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

This is Mr. Funky Teacher with Be a Funky Teacher dot com.

I'm coming to you with another Be a Funky Teacher podcast.

Welcome back everyone.

Today's episode is titled Untapped why Teachers Need Opportunities to Shine.

Let's get into what really happens when teachers never get a chance to be in the game.

Before we get into it though, let's talk about three things that I'm thankful for.

First thing that I'm thankful for, waterproof shoes.

They are perfect for walking on sloshy winter sidewalks, walking through a parking lot where maybe it's rained or across damp grass in the morning.

I love waterproof shoes.

Second thing I'm thankful for, flat brimmed hats.

A little style, a little identity, a little fun.

The world needs more teachers willing to bring in their personality into their job.

I don't teach with these flat brimmed hats on, but my students do associate me with them.

They see me wearing them at the end of the day or coming in as I start the day.

I just love them.

They're comfortable and it brings in kind of my vibe and personality.

I also wear them outside of school too for outdoor adventure and different things like that.

Third thing I'm thankful for.

Spaces where kids can strengthen fitness mindset and healthy competition.

Whether it be a court or a gym, playground, a field.

These places can not only help kids grow physically, but mentally as well.

And kids need spaces to stretch, to try, try to fail to, to compete and to grow.

And and I just visited Kansas City over the weekend with my daughter.

They have some really nice soccer complexes down there that I think some different businesses have put money into in a community.

The cities really take take care of them and it just really well received and just a great space for young people to grow their skills and it and just thinking about how, how it impacts young peoples in their family having spaces like this.

Not just soccer fields, but other spaces too, which is so important to.

For communities to have, for.

For young people and their families.

Let's get into the main topic, y', all, which is untapped potential.

Why teachers need opportunities to shine.

Now, first things first.

I want to talk about how there's so many good teachers that never shine, and it's not because they lack talent, y'.

All.

See, most.

Most schools unintentionally create accidental gatekeepers.

Now you've seen it.

The same three to five teachers get all of the committees.

The same voices are chosen every time.

The leadership rotates within a tiny inner circle.

There's quiet or humble teachers who are getting ignored.

New teachers aren't trusted, y'.

All.

And you have veteran teachers who feel overlooked.

See, things like this, it creates a culture where talent exists, but opportunity doesn't.

You know, some teachers are the bench players of education, not because they can't perform, but because no one has put them into the game.

You don't know the greatness you've never seen, y'.

All.

So let's talk about the psychology of opportunity, what research actually shows.

See, when someone is trusted with even a small leadership role, their identity shifts.

We see confidence rises.

We see creativity increases, burnout decreases, risk taking improves, connection grows, y'.

All.

Purpose strengthens.

See, identity theory tells us that people become who you trust them to be.

Tell a teacher you'd be great at this, and they begin seeing themselves differently, y'.

All.

Opportunity is the spark that ignites identity.

See, leaders don't always recognize the talent right in front of them.

Now, I would argue that most administrators aren't malicious.

They're overwhelmed themselves as administrators, let's be real.

But they often miss the brilliance on their own staff.

You might have someone who, who has elite tech skills.

You might have someone who has incredible classroom management.

You might have someone who is a relationship builder machine.

You might have someone who is an organizational genius.

Or you might have someone who is a gifted writer.

You might have a leader who doesn't recognize someone who can lead professional development but better than any consultant.

Or someone who is deeply creative, or someone who is a visionary with ideas that could transform culture.

Leaders don't always recognize this, that the.

The talent is right there in front of them.

But talents, when you have talents, talents need invitation, visibility, trust, and space.

Without those talents, talent stays hidden, y'.

All.

And the bench.

Let's talk about the bench player metaphor.

And, and this is deeper and more true than you think.

So picture a basketball kid who sits all Season.

He works hard, he learns the plays, he practices with heart, he shows commitment, but he never gets playing time.

Then one day, a chance, a quarter, just 10 minutes, and he lights it up.

He scores, he hustles, he leads, he thrives.

And the coach says to him, hey, where has this been?

The kid says, it was always here.

I just needed the opportunity.

This is teacher potential to y'.

All.

It's not missing, it's waiting.

We got barriers that block teachers.

This goes super deep.

Also, schools accidentally all create opportunity hoarding.

The same people always get asked because they're dependable.

Let's be real, they're dependable.

But the message becomes, we don't trust anyone else.

That's a bad message to send, y'.

All.

Schools accidentally create comfort zone leadership where administrators pick who they're used to and it's not always who's most ready.

Schools accidentally create fear based leadership where micromanagement chokes innovation.

See, accident.

Schools accidentally create old labels that should have expired, y'.

All.

Like a struggling first year teacher may still be seen through the lens multiple years later as a struggling first year teacher when they might be a thriving teacher.

Now schools accidentally create humble teachers who get overlooked.

Some teachers don't self promote and their gifts stay hidden, y'.

All.

We lose brilliance because we don't always know where to look.

See, opportunity is not a title, it's an invitation.

Leadership doesn't mean position.

It often means a sentence like, would you share that at our next meeting?

You're great at this.

Can you help us?

Your strategy could help our whole team.

Or you have a gift.

Can you lead this?

The invitation is the leadership moment, y'.

All.

And when we what we know is when teachers shine, culture transform.

When teachers are trusted and empowered, students get better teaching staff.

Collaboration becomes richer.

Creativity spreads morale, y'.

All.

It improves, autonomy rises.

We know that burnout decreases, teachers stay longer and leaders gain trust, y'.

All.

A thriving teacher creates thriving kids.

A trusted teacher creates trusted kids.

A supported teacher creates supported kids.

Now let me talk a little bit about my Winnebago experience, which is proving to be true.

I've talked about this often.

I'm in Winnebago, Winnebago public schools.

And I've had an opportunity this year to where my district has given me autonomy, it's given me trust, space to lead.

I've had room to innovate a voice that matters here, given respect, opportunities to collab, to do high levels of collaboration and belonging, y'.

All.

When we as educators are trusted, creativity, energy, and joy rises.

And that's why teachers stay.

So I've had a very positive experience, y', all, and see teachers stay not because the job is easy, but because the culture is supportive.

And so I want to encourage.

It's really important for administrators who are in an ad, are in.

In their administration roles to really try to look for that untapped leadership, untapped potential, and bring it.

Bring it to the forefront so it can impact the school, y'.

All.

So I issue a challenge to school leaders.

Respectfully and honestly, I issue a challenge to school leaders.

If you want excellence, invite it.

If you want innovation, trust it.

If you want retention, invest in it, y'.

All.

So some practical action steps that I think that school leaders need to do.

Rotate leadership roles.

Give someone new a chance.

Invite quiet talent, talent that you know is there, but it may be on a more quiet side.

Invite that in.

Celebrate creative risks.

Learn.

Let teachers lead professional development.

My principal has already asked me.

He's mentioned several times about possibly leading some professional development next semester.

That is huge as a new teacher being here, being invited to do that.

You know, administrators out there ask, hey, can you help us with this?

Believe in potential before performance, y'.

All.

Because, you see, every teacher is one opportunity away from their breakthrough moment, y'.

All.

They are, as we do, a reflective closing here.

You cannot bench brilliance and expect a championship culture.

You can't.

You cannot smother creativity and expect innovation.

You cannot silence fresh voices and expect growth.

Schools rise not because a few people do everything, but because.

Because many people are given a chance to shine.

Potential doesn't vanish.

It waits.

It waits for trust, for invitation, for opportunity.

Some of your most extraordinary educators are the quiet ones, the humble ones, the ones who don't ask, the ones who don't push, the ones hoping someone finally notices.

Give teachers room.

Give them trust.

Give them opportunity, y'.

All.

Because when teachers shine, the whole school lights up, y'.

All.

The whole school shines brightly.

Well, I hope you found value in this episode.

I hope.

I hope I gave you something to think about.

If you're a teacher out there, I hope I gave you some ideas to think about as teacher leaders.

I hope I.

If you're an administrator listening to this episode, I hope I gave you something to think about, too.

I. I know that there's some nuggets of advice in this episode that can really help schools and school culture thrive, y'.

All.

If you found value in this episode, jump on over to Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to your episodes and hit me up with a five star review and let me know what you think.

And I want you to remember to inspire greatness in young people.

And don't forget to be a funky teacher.

Bye now.

He's Mr. Funky Teacher yeah he's Mr. Funky Teacher yeah, yeah, yeah Year.