Reflections & Insights: A Keynote for Aspiring Educators
When the University of Iowa College of Education reached out early this Fall about delivering the graduation keynote for the Class of 2024, I was happy to oblige. I was initially unsure how to make the most of the 10-15 minutes provided given the wide variety of topics I could focus on. Ultimately, I decided to draw on my experiences as both a student and an administrator in the field, which led to an exciting idea. As I reflected on my time working in higher education it dawned on me: why not carve out a portion of this address to highlight the voices of former Iowa graduates and leverage their thoughts to guide and inspire the next generation of educators?
Reflecting on my time in higher education naturally brought to mind the amazing students I’ve worked with, many of whom are now educators themselves. I was flooded with fond memories of working with these individuals during their undergraduate years, and it was fascinating to read their advice for newly minted graduates on the verge of entering the field of education. My hope is that this address offers a platform for amplifying their feedback and guidance for future educators.
Know someone pursuing or considering a career in education – whether as a teacher, administrator, counselor or coach? Consider sharing this with them, perhaps there are insights that might help guide their journey. A big thank you to Tim Clay, Kelsey Vail, Brennan Acton, Kendall Bradford, and Marian Hope for generously sharing their wisdom. You can find their insights toward the end of the address. If you prefer to watch or listen, here’s a video of the speech as well.
University of Iowa Commencement Keynote
College of Education - December 19, 2024
Good afternoon. It’s a distinct honor to be with you here today to celebrate this exciting occasion. When the College of Education reached out to me about providing today’s keynote, my first thought was, what wisdom could I possibly impart that would stand out on a day when you’re probably just anxious to walk across this stage?
Plus, if I’m being honest, it feels a little surreal to be speaking to you all. See…I was a first-generation college student, and I didn’t have a clue what to expect when I first set foot on a college campus. In fact, I have a vivid memory of going to college orientation with my Dad at Central College in Pella, IA. As we listened to the opening presentation that day, I noticed that the speaker kept referencing faculty. At one point I leaned over and asked my dad, “What’s faculty?” He frowned, shrugged his shoulders and said, “I don’t know buddy, maybe it’s a building on campus.”
There were a lot of things I had to figure out pretty fast in order to navigate college successfully. But the great thing was, I didn’t have to do it on my own. There are so many educators that come to mind who shared their insights and wisdom with me to make my path easier. That all started with a General Elective class that I took my freshman year. It was through my favorite professor, Dr. Ed Willis that I would discover an interest in Psychology. He sparked a passion in me for exploring the curious influences that drive our behavior, as well as the assumptions we make about the extent to which we make our own decisions.
Through my junior year I was convinced that I would pursue counseling as a profession, until a discussion with Ed shed light on a new career option that had started to emerge. He prompted me to consider the sheer amount of time I had spent working on campus as an Admissions Tour Guide, a TA, an Orientation Leader and as an Upward Bound Tutor-Counselor, which helped me reflect on how much I’d come to love helping others navigate the college experience. The outcome of that discussion would lead me to pursue a Masters in Postsecondary Student Development here at the University of Iowa that next fall.
That’s the amazing thing about education; it changes things. It sheds light on new roads and opportunities. So much so that, in a few years, when I send my first child off to college, I’m going to have a lot more perspective to share with him than my father was able to share with me, and that’s thanks in so many ways to the influence of the teachers and mentors who helped me along the way. Things change for the better because of folks like you who are dedicated to creating accessible learning experiences for students. Try this: Close your eyes for a second. Picture your favorite teacher, professor, mentor, or coach. Perhaps that was one of the people who encouraged you to pursue this field. What did they sound like? How did they make you feel? What inspired you about the way they led? Now open your eyes. Just like those educational leaders who inspired you to eventually sit where you are today, you are going to play that same role in so many students’ stories that have yet to be written…and that’s a really cool thing.
Great educators help us navigate challenges, and that includes figuring out how to keep up with the breakneck pace of change. As each of you have prepared to embark on your career, I have no doubt you’ve thought extensively about the future impact artificial intelligence will have on the classroom experience. There’s no question that the emergence of AI will come with both significant pros and cons. In my mind, however, what matters most is how you choose to help your students navigate the impact of this rapidly growing technology. In fact, the onset of AI reminds me of similar winds of change happening at Iowa when I arrived here for my Masters program. I can recall in detail the first time I heard two undergraduates reference this cool new site called “The Facebook” while working in a computer lab in the Iowa Memorial Union. It wouldn’t take long for that platform and social media in general to take off like wildfire.
As Facebook’s popularity skyrocketed, administrators I worked with openly lamented it, citing ethical questions about the impact of interactions between students and faculty, as well as concerns about the overarching cultural impact this tech would have on how we interact. Did their concerns have merit? Absolutely. There’s no question that social media has demonstrated the potential to negatively influence students. That said, we might also reflect on its positive impact. The best uses of social media, for example, foster a sense of connection, community, and opportunities to bring folks together. Need proof? Just take a glimpse at the reel posted by the University of Iowa last night featuring instructors reading letters of appreciation from students. Their tears and emotions are real and it’s such a testament to the impact you all will soon have in your own right.
It’s wild to think about how quickly technology can change things. Today, we’re wrestling with the potential impact of AI, but think about this. Twenty years from now, one of you might be up here giving a commencement speech that references the potential impact of a new technology we can’t even fathom yet. That idea doesn’t shock me, because if you’d told me in 2004 when social media first launched that I’d eventually be carrying it around in my pocket all the time on something called a smartphone, I’d have laughed pretty hard. Yet here I am today consistently leveraging social media to share stories about the work I’m doing now in the field of leadership development on a regular basis. There will always be new technologies on the forefront, but regardless of how this continues to evolve, never forget that you play a critical role in supporting your students as they navigate a rapidly changing world.
Speaking of change, after completing my Masters program, I wound up serving in a series of professional roles here at Iowa, both in Residence Life and Orientation Services. In fact, when my son was younger, he used to delight in proudly telling our neighbors that his dad worked for Herky. And working for Herky had its perks. The greatest of which were the relationships formed with so many young folks navigating their own educational journeys. Here’s the thing that I learned quickly about working with students. You’ll leave an impression on them, and those you connect with at a deeper level will regularly reach back out to you in the future. Some will thank you in detail for the little everyday things you did for them. Things you didn’t even realize were making a difference. As you help foster growth and change, know that your students will eventually give voice to the important role you played in helping them write their own narratives. You can’t place a value on the intrinsic reward this work will provide when students give voice to the impact you’ve had on their lives. Never take that for granted.
Here’s another thing about being an educator: You’re never done learning. When I first entered the field of higher education, I told anyone who would listen that the best part about my work was being on a college campus all day without having to write any term papers. I mean, that’s the dream, right? Campus life with no assignments? Yet, ironically, in the late 2000s, I found myself gravitating back to the College of Education to pursue my doctorate, given a desire to maximize my ability to create ideal learning environments for students. I’ve always been driven by a desire to create more inclusive environments for people of all walks of life, and that led to the eventual study of the experiences of Division I female basketball players for my dissertation. My interest in the topic was inspired in large part by frustrations associated with how often I heard women’s basketball disparaged when compared to the men’s game. At the time, it was easy for me to take my two boys to Carver Hawkeye Arena and snag ten-dollar tickets at gametime to watch Lisa Bluder, Jan Jensen and the rest of the coaching staff field consistently solid teams. If you weren’t hearing about Iowa Women’s Basketball in the early 2010s, I’m willing to bet you’ve heard plenty about them the past few years…and there’s little chance people were buying $10 tickets at gametime anytime in recent history.
When I published my dissertation in 2015, I couldn’t have dreamt about the kind of success Iowa’s program would have over the next 10 years, or the significant increase of interest in women’s basketball overall. I’m talking about this in depth because it’s another example of positive change. Advancements like these tend to happen rapidly when conditions are right. A phenomenon that author Malcolm Gladwell describes as tipping points. But I’d argue that these conditions rarely occur without the amazing teachers and coaches that challenge us to be the very best versions of ourselves. And make no mistake about it, when young people grow up and fully tap into their natural talents and strengths…amazing things happen. When you create a supportive learning environment while also challenging your students to achieve more than they ever thought was possible, you will help them realize their full potential. Buckle up y’all, because there’s nothing more fulfilling than bearing witness to students’ developmental milestones throughout their educational journey.
You have an opportunity to be the light that inspires a new generation to thrive as you serve as a catalyst for their personal growth and development. I know, because I’ve seen it. I’ve watched former student leaders I used to work with go on to do amazing things in this field. In fact, that inspired me to reach out to several of these past Iowa grads and glean their advice to share with you all as you prepare for a significant transition in your own lives. One thing they all agree on—you’re graduating today, but your real education is still ahead of you. Here’s what they had to say:
Tim Clay, Class of 2013, is a middle school social studies teacher in the Norwalk Community School District, and he hit me with some straight talk: “You are going to learn more in your first year of teaching than you think you did in college. Some things you try are going to work and some of them aren’t. That’s okay as long as you’re always trying to do right by your students. Rely on and accentuate your strengths. There are going to be challenges, but don’t forget what brought you here and what makes you a good teacher to begin with.”
That’s also a sentiment that was echoed by Kelsey Vail, Class of 2011, now an associate principal in the Des Moines Public Schools: “The first year goes so fast. You will feel your highest highs and your lowest lows. Lean on your community outside of school. Have friends that you can disconnect with. Have a hobby that allows you to turn your mind off for a while. Teaching is one of those jobs that really becomes an identity. Having a way to stay refreshed is really useful for staying grounded and regulated.”
Brennan Acton, Class of 2012, is a high school language arts teacher in a rural Iowa school district. He told me that the first thing he discovered was that theory isn’t enough: “Learning how to do assessment and grade assignments is something that’s very important. Assessment goes well beyond theory, and you’ll want to make sure to tap into experienced teachers in your first year to learn how they approach this. The veteran teachers around you in your first year are an invaluable resource.”
Kendall Bradford, Class of 2010, is now a first-grade teacher in Waukee. She says, “Teaching never has two days that are the same. Embrace all the moments…small and big, because by the end of the year, you will have so much to be proud of. Remember to love the kids big. You may be the best part of their day. That means holding them to high expectations while giving grace and respect simultaneously…and always remember that your words hold power.”
Marian Hope, Class of 2011, is an assistant school leader in St. Louis. Her advice? “Set high expectations. Build relationships. Make positive calls home and be a good partner with families. Dedicate one day of the weekend for rest and fun. Responsibilities with teaching are like laundry, you’ll always have more to do tomorrow. Remember to love the heck out of your kids. You never know what’s going on outside the walls of your classroom, so approach every student with grace. School is a safe space, and you will become your kids’ safe space.”
There’s a lot of wisdom here, but it’s just a tiny glimpse of the thoughts and advice you can glean from experienced educators to help start your journey. Keep asking questions. Tap into the advice of those who’ve gone before you. Stay humble and ask for help. Find a mentor and lean into their experience. There’s no doubt that that their guidance will prove to be invaluable for your ongoing professional development. Regardless of whether teaching proves to be a lifelong calling, or if like me, your career path shifts over the long run, the lens of education will always frame your approach to whatever you choose to do.
I love this place. I love it for the tools it gave me to help foster growth and development…and continue to hold dear the memories of working with students here every day. Hopefully you’ll find that the tools Iowa has given you for your next steps are just as invaluable as I’ve found them to be. Embrace the lessons you’ve learned and leverage this knowledge in the years ahead to help you do great things. I wish you nothing but the utmost best on the first steps in your career. Now get out there and be the positive force for change that your students need. Congratulations.
