Issue link: http://educator.cta.org/i/969549
they are interested in and connect it to the lesson." We obviously need more policy shifts to create a better climate for teaching, but what are some of the steps schools can take to help the re-moralization process? DS: I hope schools would have a series of conversations with teachers. It could start with talking about what good work looks like. What do you need to engage in good work? What's pre- venting you, and what can we change right now to move us a little closer? We can't remove all the obstacles, but what small shifts can we make? Some of this is about having school leaders who are willing to have these types of conversations or are willing to think about good work over and above just following policy. Flexibility is key, and real change isn't going to happen in three 40-minute faculty meetings. This is deep work, but the work itself is re-moralizing because it helps create an authentic professional community. In the book, you address some ways leaders can be sources of teacher re-mor- alization, including unions. What were the teachers you interviewed looking for in their unions? DS: The teachers I talked to were excited when unions articulated the ideals of the profession. Obviously, the bread-and-butter issues are important, but whenever they heard language articulating their moral concerns about what was happening to the profession coming from the union, they felt sup- ported and connected. Here is what the profession of teaching is all about, here is what our students deserve, and this is what we are going to do to stand up for you and your autonomy as a professional. Also, when they heard their union acknowledging problems that they were experiencing and talking about collaborative proj- ects together, they were very interested. That's a big piece of re-moralization — involving educators in initiatives to find solutions. Whenever teachers are brought in to investigate and develop interventions, you're creating oppor- tunities for authentic community and taking action, in a way that feels less isolating. Unions can be an incredible source of support for teachers and help create those communities that can make change. Tim Walker writes for NEA Today. This story first appeared on neatoday.org. 21 A P R I L / M AY 2 018