The Magical Place We Call School by Dr. Kathleen Corley
What's It About?
In “The Magical Place We Call School,” Corley shares human interest stories that shed light on what is and isn’t working in American schools and provides a calm hand and a much-needed perspective from the front lines of learning.“School is a building which has four walls with tomorrow inside.” – Chinese fortune cookie
Sometimes the most profound truths about the impact of our educational institutions come from the most unlikely places.
And sometimes they don’t.
Take the observations of Dr. Kathleen Corley, whose 40 years of classroom wisdom as a teacher and school principal span different beliefs about learning, different styles of education and discipline, different environments, societal issues and cultural norms. She has seen it all and responded in kind along the way, and her reflections of what she’s observed and what she thinks are now contained in her most readable and informative book, The Magical Place We Call School (Forefront Books).
Unpacking a Lifetime of Lessons
In telling her own story, from an elementary school music teacher to several principalships, for which she was the founding principal at three of them, Corley unpacks a lifetime of lessons from the front lines on educating our youth and shaping young minds, formulating Big Picture strategies and case-by-case solutions as she weaves her way through faculties, parents and most of all the children themselves.
“Some students will never know a thing exists out there in the world unless we are the ones bringing it to them,” to quote one of her aptly named “Corleyisms.”
That’s a lofty responsibility, one that she embraces wholeheartedly.
And in doing so, she is committed to creating as comfortable and safe an atmosphere as possible, one in which children thrive and marvel at the experience known as school.
“Every day, for every child,” she writes, “to the extent that it’s possible, there should be something at school that makes life awesome and inspires a love for learning. Magic is optional, but preferable.”
To that end, Corley shares some of her innovations that have become traditional in her school environments, everything from her welcoming musical interludes to culture-nurturing stew-making festivals.
Tackling Day-to-Day Student Cases
Corley covers many day-to-day student situations, writing about them with a multitude of anecdotes that teachers and administrators face daily. The variety, volume and magnitude of these “case studies” give readers a great feel of what it’s like to work at a school, and that you never know what might present itself next.
Beyond basic learning and discipline, Corley tackles well-documented issues such as bullying, cell phone use, social media, creating the right culture, and reacting to game-changing matters like Covid. As well as offering real-life examples, she provides useful checklists to follow and consider.
Corley has come to realize that things don’t happen in a vacuum, and educators must be able to resist putting labels on children and situations based on outward actions and first impressions. Each event, if you are willing to dig, has a backstory.
“Everything a child does happens for a reason,” she writes. “Find out the reason, then meet the need. Don’t just deal with the behavior.”
Then there’s the question about children going off in their own directions with their personal interests vs. the necessary basic requirements of a well-rounded education. Corley urges that teachers must “strike a balance between children’s natural curiosity and mastering important learning objectives.”
To Facilitate, Inspire and Lead
The Magical Place We Call School is a fascinating read for parents, educators, future educators or anyone concerned with the state of education in our schools, the many challenges at hand and some of the suggestions that can be done to improve the narrative. In writing this book, Corley is committed to supporting students, their teachers and their guardians in every possible way.
If she’s learned anything over her glorious career, it’s that her job as an educator is not to manage, dictate and assess. “It is to facilitate, inspire and lead … It’s also to create a space each person needs to be the best they can be.”
For some true inspiration and some much-needed wisdom on creating those spaces, grab a copy of The Magical Place We Call School.
About Dr. Kathleen Corley:
Dr. Kathleen Corley is an award-winning educator, an authority on school culture, and the charismatic principal at Red Cedar Elementary School in Bluffton, S.C. Renowned for her unique communication and management skills, Corley has a bachelor’s in music education from the University of Illinois, a master’s in music administration from Chicago Musical College, Roosevelt University, and a Doctorate in Educational Administration from the University of Illinois.
Chicago-born, Dr. Corley began her career in education as an elementary music teacher and transitioned to education administration to make a wider impact upon student achievement and school culture. She was the founding principal at three schools and has been an educator for over 40 years. Corley has been an assistant professor at Salem State University and continues to mentor principals.
A lifelong Cubs fan, Corley lives in Bluffton, South Carolina, with her husband, Wayne, and dogs Wrigley and Fenway. The Magical Place We Call School represents her debut as an author.
