From the Field: Feed Your Brain, Too
By Laura Martinez
There are many reasons why people are drawn to school board service. Giving back to their communities, a service orientation, and wanting to be more involved in the schools their children attend are reasons I hear most frequently.May I suggest another reason? There is something about the world of school that intrigues them. If there wasn’t that something, people would be volunteering their time for an entirely different worthy cause.
What is it about school that is so intriguing?
It is the promise of something new.
That new thing could be a fact, a friendship, a future path. But it’s the allure of something to add to your brain’s collection. One of the sad things about adulthood is that adults are not routinely in an environment where the expectation is that you don’t know, that mistakes are welcome, and that there are people there to guide you.
Let’s take that element of the world of school — a place where you learn new things — and apply it now. Board members are models of behavior, especially of lifelong learning. There is a lot to learn when you first become a board member — newly elected board members, am I right? Actually, there is a lot to learn all the time as a board member: Trends in education, new laws, technology, and your new governance team’s dynamics. IASB offers events and resources to help you learn about these things: The Joint Annual Conference, Division Meetings, webinars, in-district workshops, books and articles, online courses, and more — many avenues to satisfy that kind of learning.
I’m not suggesting that school board learning isn’t fun, but let’s also consider learning for the fun of it, for the sake of getting a new wrinkle in your brain. Is there anything you’ve always wanted to try? I always wanted to learn how to play the violin, and I took violin lessons last year. It was a lot harder than I thought it would be, and I struggled with holding the bow, and where the notes were on the strings. The layout was different — I was used to the clarinet. But I tried it, and now I know a little more about it.
It’s important to learn things for the fun of it as well as learn new things because it will make you better at your job (board member and otherwise). Learning new things makes you more interesting. If you are trying to learn a new skill, even if you are not good at it, you are better able to understand, empathize, and connect with students who are struggling.
Keeping an open mind about learning new things is crucial — learning without judging. Learning feeds your brain. It provides new stimulation. It keeps you healthy, as eating nutritious food keeps you healthy. You provide fuel for your brain by learning. Of course, there are “junk food” equivalents to what you put in your brain. Reality TV is one that comes to mind, and like all things that’s ok, in moderation.
But I challenge you to challenge yourself to learn, not just information, but skills, or ways of thinking. Consider Howard Gardner’s Theory on Multiple Intelligences, and explore visual-spatial, linguistic-verbal, logical-mathematical, body-kinesthetic, musical, interpersonal, intrapersonal, and naturalistic topics.
Feed your brain. Demonstrate lifelong learning. Remember that there is a student inside of you that still wants to learn.
Laura Martinez is Field Services Director with the Illinois Association of School Boards for the Kishwaukee, Northwest, and Lake Divisions.