As I anticipate the discussion in which I have volunteered to lead next week, regarding mission and vision, I am apprehensive and hopeful at the same time. It is a challenge that I look forward to.

Bringing together 48 teachers to decide what we stand for is important to truly define what our 21C group is all about. But after looking at the four pages of notes that have accumulated between the three mini-groups that make up our large group, I can’t help but feel like there is a large mountain that we need to climb in order to tame this monster.

By default, we as teachers, are passionate about our work. We want to be sure that we get our points made and that everyone embraces them as passionately as we do. But when we write a mission statement, a statement that should be two sentences at the most, how am I…how are we…going to be able to agree on what is the most important. How am I…we…going to ensure that every voice is heard and supported? How am I going to take the “I” out of the equation for the greater good?

I can write our mission statement. I can write our vision statement. But what I write will not be what Terry would write, or what Andrea would write, or what James would write.

I guess I am saying is we will really need to work together and be willing to compromise in order to form a mission statement that is broad enough that everyone feels validated. Everyone feels comfortable with our decision. Everyone supports and believes in our mission. Otherwise it is just another sentence.