Modern Athenas

Esme Raji Codell's book, Educating Esme, is about her first year teaching fifth grade in a rough and tumble area of Chicago. Esme takes the reader along during the summer before her teaching career starts, as she accepts a position in a new public school. Esme has the tireless energy of all young, new teachers and a deep-rooted belief that no matter what, it is the students that matter. As you listen to her classroom tales, you can’t help but draw parallels between Esme and her classroom, and new leaders and their teams in the workplace. The lessons are the same, and the results are predictable: leaders succeed when they own everything about their job and their team, and the team succeeds when the leader is engaged and the team is invested in the mission. INDEX0:00 Intro and Background of the Book1:54 Why Did They Hire Me?6:32 The Fairy Tale Festival Proposal10:54 The Late Night Calls18:37 Reframing and Finding Creative Solutions33:13 Inventors37:12 Greek Gods39:50 Cajun Christmas42:36