Here's an email I received a few weeks ago from a coach who wishes to be anonymous:

I'm a high school literacy coach in a large urban district. I work across a dozen sites that are considered our worst schools. The situation is dismal: inexperienced leadership, no trust amongst teachers and administrators, brand new curriculum, predominantly first year teachers, large scale systems that aren't working, no funding, and then there's poverty, gangs, and so on. I've been working in this district for many years and am increasingly feeling hopeless, frustrated, and enraged by what I see.

I'm also a black man and am perceived as "an Angry Black Man." Last year I went to a workshop where the presenters (who were mostly white women) spoke about "releasing emotions." I get it, but I also don't know if I can, or even should let go of these feelings. I was told I couldn't be a good coach if I held onto my emotions. Has this happened to you? Do you think this is true? Advice?

An A.B.M.

 

Read Elena's response by clicking here.