Human-centered teaching: how do we lead with love, not fear?

Each December, I take a break from these weekly emails + my Truth for Teachers podcast episodes to spend some time going inward.

I disconnect from social media, and spend more time reading books and retraining my brain to focus for longer periods of time.

I reflect on my work over the past year, and carefully consider what I want to contribute to the world in the coming year.

So, in the last article + podcast episode of 2024, I wanted to leave you with some big picture ideas and meaningful questions that I hope will linger with you over the holidays and your time off.

I’m sharing a conversation I had with Dr. Shamari Reid, an assistant professor of Justice and Belonging in Education at New York University. He has taught Spanish, English as a new language, and ELA at the elementary, secondary, and post-secondary levels in Oklahoma, New York, Uruguay, and Spain.

Shamari shares the journey from seeing himself as a “teacher superhero” to understanding he’s a human who teaches.

Like many of us, Shamari once believed that it was his job to save his students and fix systemic issues through sheer hard work. That mindset led him to overwork himself until he burned out completely, even blacking out while driving from exhaustion.

During his recovery, Shamari came across Toni Morrison’s concept of self-regard, which caused him to rethink his identity and realize that he was more than just a teacher. He started to see the importance of recognizing his humanity and taking care of his needs outside of the classroom.

I relate deeply to Shamari’s experience, and together, we explore how centering love in education—nurturing both students’ and our own emotional and spiritual growth—can create a more just and equitable learning environment.

It takes courage to break away from fear-based, status quo practices and lead with love, but it’s necessary. So, we talk about how teachers can overcome common fears like making mistakes, not being perfect, or neglecting academics in our attempt to incorporate important things that aren’t on the The Test.

Shamari shares practical steps for navigating all of these challenges and more, including articulating your vision, planning backwards from your goal, and, most importantly, giving yourself grace.

At the heart of this conversation is a reminder: being human is enough. We don’t need to earn our worth by overworking or sacrificing our boundaries. It’s okay to say no, set limits, and take care of yourself. By embracing our humanity, we invite love into our classrooms and can overcome obstacles together.

This is an honest, heartfelt conversation about what it really means to teach with love and why it's crucial to prioritize our well-being. I hope it leaves you feeling inspired and reminded that you are enough—just as you are.

Listen or read the transcript

Take care, and be well. I’ll be back with more podcast episodes in the new year.

Angela

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