What Color Is Your Tutu?

Last week during our Martin Luther King Jr. assembly, I wore a tutu. I talked about Identity Day.

While I prefer to let my students be the stars of our assemblies, I pushed to bring Identity Day to our school. I needed to share my vision with our students and staff. On the morning of the assembly, Sarah (not her real name) asked me to wear her tutu during the assembly. It wasn't exactly a dare...instead, she skillfully argued that I needed to connect with the audience and make my presentation personal (something I often tell them)...I agreed.

So there I stood, in the middle of the gym with 600+ students and staff, wearing Sarah's designer tutu while talking about my project (a trip to the Berlin Wall) along with five amazing students all dressed for their Identity Day presentation (ballet, soccer, golf, Irish dancing, and Call of Duty - Black Ops). Together we lit a fire in our audience. We gave them a glimpse into our lives and let them hear us talk about our passion. It was a big moment in our school.

A year ago I don't think I could have pulled it off. I wouldn't have believed that it was in anyone's best interest. Now, I don't take myself so serious. I work in a middle school where emotions run the gamut and body language speaks volumes. So if wearing a tutu somehow brings out a smile in a student, demonstrates my humility, or sparks humility in others* I say "bring it on." My only question is, what color is your tutu?

*a few days later another staff member, who students often say is "scary", wore the same tutu during class and posted a picture of himself wearing the tutu as his Facebook status.