District 157-C and the power of being educators

The first District 157-C School Improvement Day of the new school year included a picnic lunch and a presentation by speaker and award-winning author Mawi Asgedom. Superintendent Dr. Maura Zinni welcomed Board of Education members, staff and bus drivers to the event. She commented on the great amount of thoughtfulness that goes into the start of a new school year and highlighted the many heartwarming efforts of staff helping students on the first day of school. Board President Gina Briese also welcomed new and returning staff members and thanked them for a great transition to the new school year.

During the program, staff members were excited to meet educator, speaker and renowned author Mawi Asgedom. Born during civil war in Ethiopia, at age three he and his family fled across hundreds of miles of wilderness to reach a United Nation refugee camp in Sudan. At age six, Mawi moved to the United States, where he overcame poverty and learned English. He went on to earn a scholarship to Harvard University, wrote several books and has spoken to more than one million people about success, leadership, mindset and motivation. Oprah Winfrey called her interview with Mawi one of her top 20 moments.

Mawi’s program was based on his book, “The 5 Powers of an Educator.” The enthusiastic and personable speaker inspired the 157-C staff with his own story while providing them insight on how to become powerful educators. He explained that his key to success was the opportunity to get educated and that educators have the power to make a difference in their communities. He spoke about arriving in the United States, being new to a public school in Wheaton, starting to learn English and not connecting with the other children. Mawi said he will never forget the classmate who invited him to his birthday party because it made him feel less invisible. He had a similar experience when a teacher invited him to participate in a school “Battle of the Books” program. Mawi encouraged the educators in the audience to look for those kids who might be invisible in their school. He said when we invite kids to do something it shows them that we “see” them. He stated, “It is the first thing a powerful educator can do…see all kids that have that lens on, always look out that nobody in school is invisible.”

Mawi also spoke about the fact that it is easier to play the victim in a situation but that it doesn’t give you any power to do better. Rather than use the “victim” button he advised using the “turbo” button which means asking “What can we do to make things better?” He said that in July he presented to 600 Chicago School Principals who had no budgets and were dealing with many shootings in the city so they had plenty of reasons to use the “victim” button. He stated, “When you become an educator you stepped up to lead under all circumstances and you are too busy to spend time in ‘Victim Land.’ Stay in ‘turbo’ to have a better life.” He encouraged the educators to continue to grow because the attitude and mindset on growth in kids comes from us as adults. He believes that adults who go on a growth journey that pushes them will also push the students to be better. He stated, “Challenge kids to hit their turbo.”

He said to his audience, “If I see you again and you tell me you liked my presentation I will shake your hand, but if you tell me how you used one of my suggestions to make things better I will buy you a sandwich!” More information about Mawi and his story can be found at www.mawispeaks.com.