When I was growing up, my father would quote people like Sugar Ray Leonard. He told me that Sugar Ray once said that Champions believe in themselves even when nobody else will. During races and training he'd call out to me "You've GOT to believe!"

The online webster's dictionary defines belief this way:

1:a state or habit of mind in which trust or confidence is placed in some person or thing

2:somethingbelieved;especially:a tenet or body of tenets held by a group

3:conviction of the truth of some statement or the reality of some being or phenomenon especially when based on examination of evidence

These really ring true for education, don't they? Habits of mind that place trust in others. A common body of tenets held by our group. A conviction of the truth... is this not right at the essence of our mission? What do you believe about yourself, your colleagues, your students? It's easy to say you believe in something... it's easy to show up and look like you believe. But what is your real truth? The truth will be known by our students and that's what this video of a keynote in Dallas is all about:

 http://www.dallasisd.org/keynote.htm

 Perhaps the definition of a great teacher is someone who believes in the students even when nobody else will.

Do YOU believe?