Suspending Certainty
July 16, 2025
This second article in the series Jennifer is writing for TIE is about the skill adults need to develop around suspending certainty, the understanding that our way is not “the” only way but “a” way.
Excerpt:
No one needs to tell school leaders that both the world outside our school and the world within are currently full of incredible uncertainty and change. The micro mirrors the macro. It is apparent in every interaction and news article. Comics on our TV screens are trying to keep us smiling. Many a book is written about how to manage in times of Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity, and Ambiguity (VUCA). The dysregulation we experience from our colleagues and families (and ourselves!) shows us we are managing a lot. The goal of this articles series is to provide some just in time, quick to implement strategies and supports to keep ourselves as steady and as grounded as we can in the moment.
It is true that we need to model civil discourse and encourage long-term thinking about big challenges, and while valuable, that work takes many years to take seed and flourish. Meanwhile, we need “just in time” tools, skills, and support. How might we behave in the “here and now” to be our best selves; to model what it means to be emotionally self-regulated, mature, respectful educators and leaders?
About Jennifer Abrams
Jennifer has been recognized as one of "21 Women All K-12 Educators Need to Know" by Education Week's 'Finding Common Ground' blog. She considers herself a "voice coach," helping others learn how to best use their voices – be it collaborating on a team, facilitating a group, coaching a colleague, supervising an employee and being an all around better human being in all types of interactions.
Work with Jennifer
Praise for Jennifer
“In today’s digital world, it is even more important to understand the multi-generational workforce, as well as the complications of having hard conversations. Jennifer’s mind-shifting workshops pull you in. You become self-aware, socially aware, and, most importantly, you are given specific skills and strategies to utilize that empower you to be an advocate for change.”
