The Power of a Teacher | Adam Saenz | TEDxYale

TEDx Talks
3 Nov 201518:28
EducationalLearning
32 Likes 10 Comments

TLDRIn this heartfelt narrative, Dr. Adam Lewis Signs shares his transformative journey from a troubled youth to a licensed psychologist, inspired by the unwavering belief of two educators in his potential. His story illustrates the profound impact educators can have on students' lives, as he himself becomes a change agent, adopting a child from the foster system and emphasizing the importance of love, value, and purpose. The script is a tribute to the power of teaching and the life-altering influence of believing in a student's identity and destiny.

Takeaways
  • 🗓️ The speaker's first day as a substitute teacher on August 25th, 2008, was a pivotal and traumatic event that significantly impacted their career.
  • 📚 Despite being a licensed psychologist, the speaker realized the importance of firsthand classroom experience for understanding the challenges faced by teachers.
  • 👦 The speaker's behavior management strategy initially failed, highlighting the complexity of classroom management and the need for adaptive strategies.
  • 👧 A student's comment about the number of students in the class exposed the speaker's lack of preparation and understanding of the classroom environment.
  • 🤯 The speaker's realization of the demanding nature of teaching came from their own substitute teaching experience, not from their academic background.
  • 💡 The 'light bulb' moment for the speaker was understanding the profound impact educators have on students' lives and the importance of their 'why' in education.
  • 👨‍🏫 The speaker's personal story of transformation from a troubled youth to a successful psychologist was influenced by the belief and support of two teachers.
  • 📖 Letters from teachers provided the speaker with a sense of identity and potential that contradicted their self-perception and motivated them to pursue education.
  • 🎓 The speaker's educational journey, from struggling with depression and drug use to earning a PhD, was driven by the validation and encouragement from educators.
  • 👨‍👧 The adoption story of the speaker's daughter, Lauren, illustrates the power of love, acceptance, and the importance of educators in shaping a child's future.
  • 🌟 The speaker emphasizes the generational impact educators have, as seen in both their own life and in their relationship with their daughter, highlighting the profound influence of a teacher's care and dedication.
Q & A

  • What significant event occurred on August 25th, 2008, for the speaker?

    -The speaker's first day as a substitute teacher in an inner city third-grade classroom, which was a turning point in their career.

  • Why did the speaker initially start substitute teaching?

    -The speaker, being a licensed psychologist, wanted to experience firsthand what it's like to be in a classroom to see if it would change their beliefs and recommendations about how to intervene with children.

  • What was the speaker's method for behavior management on their first day of substitute teaching?

    -The speaker planned to write the students' names on the board as a form of punishment, thinking it would instill discipline.

  • What was the pivotal realization the speaker had after their first day of substitute teaching?

    -The speaker realized that having degrees and theoretical knowledge about education does not equate to understanding the day-to-day demands and challenges of teaching without actual classroom experience.

  • What was the speaker's background before becoming a psychologist?

    -The speaker had a troubled past, including juvenile arrests, depression, and drug use, before turning their life around and pursuing education and a career in psychology.

  • How did the speaker's life change after receiving letters from their high school teachers?

    -The letters, which contained positive affirmations and encouragement, inspired the speaker to challenge their self-perception and eventually pursue higher education, leading to a transformation in their life.

  • What was the speaker's initial reaction to the letters from their teachers?

    -Initially, the speaker was conflicted, as the letters challenged their self-identity as a troubled individual, but eventually, they decided to test the teachers' belief in them by enrolling in college.

  • What impact did the speaker's adoption of Lauren have on their perspective on education and life?

    -The adoption of Lauren, who had a difficult past, reinforced the speaker's belief in the power of educators and the importance of love, protection, and guidance in shaping a child's life.

  • What did the speaker mean when they said their job as a parent is to 'lay their life down' for their children?

    -The speaker meant that their role is to protect, provide for, and guide their children, demonstrating their love and commitment to ensuring their children understand their own value and potential.

  • How did the speaker's experience as a troubled youth influence their professional work as a psychologist?

    -The speaker's personal experiences with adversity and transformation provided them with unique insights and empathy, which they now apply in their work with children and educators.

  • What was the significance of the speaker adopting the name 'Adam'?

    -Adopting the name 'Adam' symbolized the speaker's decision to leave behind their troubled past and embrace the potential and identity that their teachers saw in them.

Outlines
00:00
😅 First Day Fiasco: A Substitute Teacher's Misadventure

The speaker recounts their disastrous first day as a substitute teacher on August 25th, 2008, in an inner-city third-grade classroom. Despite being a licensed psychologist, they were unprepared for the chaos and poor behavior management, exemplified by a failed attempt to use the 'writing names on the board' tactic. The day was filled with mishaps, culminating in a student pointing out the speaker's mistake in counting students for detention. The day ended with a surprising compliment from a challenging student, sparking a reflection on the demanding nature of teaching and the need for practical experience to truly understand it.

05:00
🌟 From Troubled Youth to Licensed Psychologist: A Transformation

The speaker, once a troubled youth with a history of legal issues and depression, shares their personal journey of transformation. Growing up in the Lower Rio Grand Valley in the early 1980s, they were arrested and eventually placed in a new family's care, where they began to excel in school. Despite facing depression and drug use after aging out of the foster system, the speaker found inspiration in letters from two influential teachers. These letters, filled with belief and encouragement, prompted the speaker to pursue higher education, leading to a career as a licensed psychologist.

10:01
🎓 The Power of Belief: Overcoming Adversity Through Education

Continuing his narrative, the speaker describes his academic journey, which began with a successful completion of an English course and led to earning an undergraduate degree in English by the age of 27. This academic success was a turning point, as it allowed him to pursue a master's degree and eventually a PhD in school psychology. The speaker highlights the pivotal role that educators played in his life, particularly Mrs. McRoberts and Mrs. Exley, whose belief in him was instrumental in his transformation from a troubled individual to a professional achieving his dreams.

15:01
💖 The Impact of Love and Education: Changing a Life's Trajectory

The speaker concludes with a heartfelt account of adopting a girl named Lauren from the foster care system and the profound effect this had on both their lives. He emphasizes the importance of understanding one's value and the role of educators in shaping a person's destiny. The speaker's own life was dramatically altered by the influence of caring teachers, and he, in turn, strives to provide the same kind of life-changing support to Lauren. His story underscores the generational impact educators can have and the transformative power of love and belief in one's potential.

Mindmap
Keywords
💡Substitute Teacher
A substitute teacher is an educator who temporarily fills in for a regular classroom teacher when they are absent. In the video, the speaker's first experience as a substitute teacher was pivotal, as it exposed him to the realities of classroom management and the challenges faced by teachers, which significantly influenced his career path.
💡Traumatic Event
A traumatic event refers to a deeply distressing or disturbing occurrence that can cause lasting emotional effects. The speaker describes his first day as a substitute teacher as a traumatic event due to the chaos and mismanagement he experienced, highlighting the profound impact this day had on his professional life.
💡Behavior Management
Behavior management involves strategies and techniques used by educators to maintain a conducive learning environment by addressing and influencing student behavior. The speaker initially attempted to manage his classroom by writing names on the board as a punitive measure, which is an example of behavior management, although it was ineffective in this context.
💡Inner City
The term 'inner city' typically refers to the central and often less affluent areas of a city, which can face various social and economic challenges. The speaker mentions an 'inner city third-grade classroom,' setting the scene for the difficulties he faced, which can be attributed to the complex dynamics of urban education.
💡Vocational Satisfaction
Vocational satisfaction is the fulfillment and contentment one derives from their career or profession. The speaker's research into the psychological variables that drive vocational satisfaction for educators is a key part of his narrative, as it explores what motivates teachers to persist in their challenging roles.
💡Educational Psychology
Educational psychology is the study of how people learn in educational settings, and it informs practices to improve learning and teaching. The speaker, being a licensed psychologist, applies principles of educational psychology in his work with teachers and students, emphasizing its importance in understanding and addressing academic and behavioral issues.
💡Classroom Leadership
Classroom leadership refers to the ability of a teacher to guide and influence students in a learning environment. The speaker's initial failure to effectively lead his classroom as a substitute teacher underscores the importance of strong classroom leadership for successful teaching.
💡Adoption
Adoption is the legal process of taking another person's biological child and raising them as one's own. The speaker shares a personal story about adopting a girl named Lauren, demonstrating the transformative power of love and family on a child's life, which parallels the impact educators can have on students.
💡Identity
Identity refers to the characteristics determining who a person is, including their sense of self. The speaker's journey involves a significant shift in identity, from a troubled youth to an accomplished professional, influenced by the belief and affirmation from his teachers, which is a central theme in the video.
💡Insight
Insight is the capacity to gain an accurate and deep understanding of one's own or someone else's ideas and feelings. The speaker describes several 'light bulb' moments of insight, such as realizing the importance of firsthand teaching experience and the profound influence educators can have on students' lives.
💡Life Impacting Relationships
Life impacting relationships are connections with others that significantly affect one's life trajectory. The speaker emphasizes the role of educators in forming these relationships with students, which can inspire and guide them towards a better future, as illustrated by his own transformation.
Highlights

The speaker's first day as a substitute teacher was a pivotal moment that changed their career trajectory.

The speaker's method of behavior management in an inner-city third-grade classroom was writing students' names on the board, which proved ineffective.

A student pointed out an error in the speaker's class management, highlighting a significant mistake in counting the number of students present.

Despite a challenging first day, a student acknowledged the speaker's resilience and asked if they would return as a teacher the next day.

The speaker's experience as a substitute teacher led to a deep appreciation for the demanding and challenging profession of teaching.

The speaker's research into the psychological variables driving vocational satisfaction for educators was sparked by their own classroom experience.

The speaker emphasizes the importance of understanding the 'why' of education to naturally align with the 'what', 'where', 'when', and 'how'.

The speaker's personal story as a troubled youth with a history of legal issues and depression is shared to illustrate the transformative power of education.

The speaker's life was significantly impacted by two teachers who believed in him and his potential, despite his troubled past.

The speaker's journey from a troubled youth to a licensed psychologist was catalyzed by the belief and support of his teachers.

The speaker's adoption of his daughter, Lauren, represents the generational impact educators can have on students' lives.

The speaker's commitment to his daughter, Lauren, to lay down his life for her, underscores the profound love and dedication educators can offer to their students.

The speaker's realization of his own value and potential was a turning point that led him to change his life and pursue a career in psychology.

The speaker's story concludes with a reflection on his identity and the profound influence teachers had on his life, emphasizing the power of education to change destinies.

Transcripts

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Related Tags
Educational ImpactPersonal GrowthTeacher InfluenceSubstitute TeachingTrauma HealingClassroom ManagementLife ChangingInspirationIdentity CrisisAdoption Story