A Former Educator Magnifies Their Impact
From Classroom to Support Role
Whether a student or teacher, employing growth mindset is key for opening new doors and growing. Empowered staffer, and former teacher, Ken Chadwick inspired colleagues, students, and now teachers as his growth mindset spreads his joy.
Ken knows almost too well that what Empowered Educators do for students – Empowered does for educators. We root for, cheer on, support, encourage, congratulate, and guide. Staffers like Ken Chadwick – who worked in the business world for 30 years before spending what he anticipated to be the last nine years of his career teaching. A funny thing happened . . . while teaching Ken discovered his long-established super powers (listening, empathy, providing support) were more valuable than ever when guiding kids who are just starting to explore the world.
“Keep improving on what you’ve done so far. Talk about past experiences in your life and student successes as an example of what is possible for your current students.”
Ken Chadwick
Empowered
There were lights going on as I spoke with students as people and helped them see the relevance to what we were learning. By telling stories from my days in other roles, I build trust and value in their eyes. I helped them flesh out their ideas and provided context to learning that they found engaging. He found it incredibly rewarding and wanted every teacher to feel the same way.
After facilitating numerous Empowered workshops and summits, Ken took another leap and transformed from a classroom teacher to the next and unanticipated phase of his career – at Empowered.
Do What You Love, Love What You Do
He now works with fellow educators from his home in Colorado, assisting them in starting or rekindling a love of students and learning using the powerful resources available through Empowered.
For the seasoned educators already using the tools, Ken has advice on how the growth mindset can be used for current students. Ken suggests to “Keep improving on what you’ve done so far. Talk about past student success as a guide and example of what is possible for current students.”
For example, Ken had a student who didn’t even think college was a path or option for her before Ken’s class. By finding her passions and building her confidence, she not only applied to but was accepted into Stanford. “She really took the growth mindset to heart,” said Ken. “I had another student who came from an immigrant family. He was expected to go into the family business after high school,” said Ken. “The ‘trouble’ was that he wanted to go into cybersecurity. He talked with his parents and they saw his excitement and wanted him to pursue the opportunity. He was the first in his family to go to college.”
Ken, like all Empowered staffers, wants that same path for every student and that same influence for every teacher. Whatever a kid wants to do – helping them understand what it will take to get there is the first step.
Ken reminds us that a growth mindset is the key. “You can do what YOU want to do,” and in Ken’s world, that means for both students and teachers alike.
Useful Links
- Click here to read his bio and/or schedule an appointment with Ken
- Click here to Get Started as an Empowered Educator
- Click here to learn more about Growth Mindset (FREE Empowered Hub account required. Create yours here.)
