The Danger of Cruise Control

Think back to your first years of teaching. The energy. The desperation. The midnight Googling for lesson ideas. The sheer hustle to figure it all out. There’s a hunger there that’s easy to lose once you’ve built your toolbox and got your groove.

Cruise control feels great—until the road throws a curve, and you’re not ready. What if the lesson that’s worked for five years is now out of step with what students need today? What if the method that delivered solid results could, with a few tweaks, spark even deeper thinking? What if your comfort zone is quietly capping your effectiveness?

It’s easy to miss these signs. After all, students are passing, administrators are pleased, and parents aren’t calling. But “not broken” doesn’t mean “can’t be better.”

Zoom Out: See the Gaps

So, how do you recognize where there’s room for improvement?

Start by zooming out. Step away from the content and ask: Are students truly engaging or just complying? Am I talking too much? Are the quieter students being reached? Is my feedback meaningful, or just fast?

Self-audit like a detective, not a judge. Track patterns. Listen harder. Watch who participates without prompting and who floats through unnoticed.

Then, zoom in. Watch a recording of your lesson. Invite a peer to observe—not to evaluate, but to reflect. Fresh eyes see what familiarity misses.

Disrupt Yourself—Intentionally

The best educators disrupt their own practices before the world does it for them. This doesn’t mean throwing out everything that works. It means tweaking, experimenting, and upgrading. Maybe you reimagine a unit through a project-based lens. Maybe you lean into more student voices. Maybe you dive into a book study with colleagues. And yes, sometimes it means facing uncomfortable truths—like realizing your assessments favor certain learners or your materials lack representation.

Engage with new research. Attend a workshop not because your district makes you, but because you want to challenge yourself. Professional Learning in Education isn’t about collecting hours; it’s about collecting insight.

The Best Are Always Becoming

Here’s the kicker: the best teachers don’t believe they’ve “arrived.” They’re always becoming. They treat their practice like a living, breathing thing—something to nurture, question, and occasionally reinvent.

And the impact? Students don’t just learn. They grow. Because when teachers model curiosity, vulnerability, and evolution, students don’t just take notes—they take notice.

Final Thoughts: Good Isn’t the Goal

So yes, you’ve got a rhythm. You’ve got results. But don’t stop there.

Look at your craft like a sculptor looks at stone—always scanning for where to chisel, refine, and smooth. Because the best educators aren’t just content experts or behavior managers. They’re learners first.