The Song Inspired by Promise Academy and the book Whatever It Takes

Whatever It Takes
By: Robert A. Anaya

A blues/rock and roll beat in the key of E

Chorus:

Whatever I need to say
Whatever I need to do
All that i want is to be through to you
Thats what im gonna do
Thats what im gonna say
Whatever it takes to get through to you

Don't really care the color of your skin
your type of shoes, your friends your kin
Got one objective, so let me be clear
to teach you something, beyond books its clear

Here's the first lesson, hear it right hear
be quick to listen and slower to speak
cause your mouth alone can make you weak.

There's all types of people and cultures to learn
whole lotta fun and memories to burn
let me say it now, say it for your ear
grudge less, judge less, fudge less keep your heart clear.

Pick up your books, Ipad, paper phone
read what you can, read all along
this world is full of heartache and scam
filter it all, do it for yourself and for others at hand.

This verse goes out to teachers one and all
There is no escaping, no running at all
there's no cookie cutter, no perfect templet
pick your poison and mix it with your fudge
never stop learning and yearning for love
its your class so go make it happen

You might need to change up and find a new pitch
If you don't you kids will through you in a ditch
Its your choice Its your class so go make it happen.

Give kids a challenge and don't forget some praise
Keep them really busy so they don't begin to daze
Don't give up, don't give up, don't give up
so go make it happen.

There's more to teaching then appeared reality
Beyond the class and school this crude visibility
empty stomachs, mixed with full, you cannot see
Drugs and alcohol with limited maturity

Parents come in two, one or not at all
in all varieties, structured homes and some falling down
A mix you soon will see
Be aware, be aware, be aware
and find some help and go make it happen

There is so much to do with mixed ideology
Teaching is a progress with regress towards a better society
Rich and poor, a collective economy
make a difference, take a chance, go make it happen


Whatever I need to say
Whatever I need to do
All that i want is to be through to you
Thats what im gonna do
Thats what im gonna say
Whatever it takes to get through to you

Bias

Bias can be good and bias can definitely be bad. It is tendencies and the actions we live out daily. Bias is the exposures and life actions that we have become accustom to that we have learned through our lives.  The upbringing we have, our parents our siblings our families, our friends, our schools, our communities, the cloths we wear, the hobbies we have in short everything.  I acknowledge that in my own heart and mind i wish no ill will to or harm to anyone. This being said i recognize and embrace my moments of poor judgement and conscious error.  I don't think there is a person who is without bias, but i do believe there are some that never see it, and when it is negative make effort to understand and grow from it.  As teacher i hope to teach in a school with a broad diversity of people from all walks of life and all socioeconomic backgrounds.  I hope to afford students the knowledge via curriculum and content in the context of life and living. I believe we are inherently good people and that our negative bias comes from a lack of exposure and understanding of the true beauty of diversity.  We live in a place of structured tendencies that differ by region and place, that each tries to oversimplify into a perceived norm.  I have learned to look within myself as often as i can and work to understand those differences that at first blush seem incomprehensible.

A uncommon approach to teaching, this years teacher of the year (lower case)

It is with reluctance but some optomistic caution that i present to you this years National Teacher of the year from our own Albuquerque, New Mexico.  I know that many of you are saying that in the midst of the recent controversy and the fact that many have lost confidence in the public education system.  This is an article you have to read.  Its best presented by a student " I know he is not the sharpest knife in the drawer but Mr. Anaya really does want our kids to graduate and prosper."  Robert  Anaya has been selected to be this years National Teacher of the year and by no means is he a pillar of excellence and mastery.  We took a close look at his credential and his grades, and quickly found that there was not much to write home and tell people about.  Then what is it, what makes the kids he tries to help continue to do well and graduate from school.  One parent said "I'm not sure what makes him tick but he is always trying to include us in mike's education he has a personal stake and a commitment to help him graduate, he truly wants mike to succeed."  When we asked the principal what his thoughts were he said "Robert doesn't always have the right methodology, and probably doesn't always use sound researched based theories, but without question he tries and he cares."  We found from reviewing the progression of grades in Mr. Anaya's classes that he uses his resources.  He is a believer in community based education and shared responsibility; and he believes it is a collective responsibility to educate our kids; and he believes we cannot make excuses for our gaps, we must work collectively to make things better.  Its not about the standardized test, the grade point average or the grade on the SAT or ACT.  Its about knowledge and community based support that recognizes and supports that our graduates will be our workforce and a workforce that realizes they want their graduates to stay home.  Robert Anaya is no genius or expert by any stretch, he is simple and his intellect is average.  One thing he has realized is that it is not students,  teachers and administrators responsibility to educate our kids, it is the collective will and participation of the community.  It is this collective will that has decreased the drop out rate, it is this collective will that has increased the graduation rate and it is this collective will that has led to a higher per capita score on the college entrance tests than any other school in the the state of New Mexico. In his own words Mr. Anaya said "Its not about what i do, its about what we do to collectively work in the interests of our kids and attain highest education possible.  We are the collective support and the collective solution, it is so simple it is hard."  When we asked his teachers at CNM's ATL program for their comments Dr. Chenven said "What? Robert is teacher of the year, wow i guess some people do figure things out in time, i thought he was lost most of the time"  Robert himself said about his teachers "those teachers at CNM, insight thought and challenge into the minds of their students, they don't give you the answers they plant the seeds for critical thinking."  "They, all teachers at CNM and throughout my life, including my parents created the opportunities i now realize."  Beaver Cleaver a student went on to say "Mr. R. challenged us to help our peers and to help ourselves." He constantly told us over and over and over again this is your opportunity to learn seize it. "He wasn't, and isn't afraid to talk with us he really tried to build a relationship with us and also constantly insisted we work to not relive his educational mishaps."   Donna Johnstan another of his students said "he can be a bit grouchy, talks too much sometimes and is not as funny as he thinks he is, but that aside i really think he wants the best for all of us.  Ironically, we found another of his teachers and they too were bewildered that he received the award saying i didn't even know he finished the program.  When we asked Robert for his closing thoughts about the award, he paused, then laughed acting puzzled like his two teachers and said "This is an honor, but its really not mine this award belongs to the students."  He also said "when i got into the CNM ATL program i was a bit scared and fearful, but thanks to my fellow Posse in the ATL program and ongoing badgering and flack from Chenven and the staff we all made it and do what we can year by year to keep it going."  "Help Kids, Help Themselves and Others"