Heroes Worth Meeting

James McBride said, “Listen, don’t meet your heroes. If you meet your heroes, you’re always going to be disappointed.”

You don’t have to search very far on the internet to find out that throngs of people agree.

But today, I get to tell you about one who didn’t disappoint.

We send Daily CAFE articles to Laurel Robinson for copyediting/proofreading. We have been colleagues for 14 years, but until July 2024 had never met. I was heading to Lubec, Maine, for a weeklong writing conference with other teachers, and when I suspected I would be near where she lives, I reached out.

We met for lunch (my first lobster roll) and a tour of her beautiful town in Maine. There was sunshine, sparkling water, rustling leaves, and a hint of wild blueberries in the air. Conversation was easy and light, and the move from strangers-but-colleagues to friends felt seamless.

Why is she a hero? Her mission is to make us sound good. She wants our voices and messages to be clear and effective. She expertly eliminates all the stuff that would distract you all, and sends back writing that is smoother, clearer, and has every necessary comma in the right place (and every unnecessary comma painlessly removed).

Her sole goal is to help us.

And we get the chance to do the same for our students: to come alongside, support, help, and let our students shine.

The art of education feels a little daunting these days. Connections and collaborations, like the one we have with Laurel, can make us ever stronger and the job more joyful. So, as we embark on a new school year, let’s intentionally make connections and collaborate with colleagues and coaches who want to see us shine. In the process we too will meet, and perhaps be, heroes.

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