Turning Problems Into Possibilities – Lessons from the Amistad House at CVE.

This morning, I had the privilege of leading our Amistad house meeting at Cibolo Valley Elementary, and let me tell you—it was one of those rare mornings where everything just clicked. The focus of our meeting? Tackling life's problems. Yep, we dove headfirst into what it means to face challenges. And you know what? Instead of groans or sighs, the room was buzzing with excitement.

We kicked things off by reading "What Do You Do With a Problem?" by Kobi Yamada, a beautifully illustrated book that captivated the students. For those of you unfamiliar with the story, it follows a child who’s trying to avoid a problem that just won’t go away. It’s a bit like that one email we all keep ignoring—it only gets more urgent the longer you put it off! Sound familiar, teachers?

In the book, the problem seems to grow bigger and scarier the more the child ignores it. Then, finally, the child faces the problem and discovers it’s not a monster at all—it’s actually an opportunity. Watching the students' faces light up as they grasped this idea was incredible. They understood that avoiding problems only makes them worse, but when you face them, that's when the real magic happens.

This lesson hit home for me too, especially as a teacher. Let’s face it: we’ve all got our own problems chasing us—piles of paperwork, challenging students, deadlines that seem impossible. But much like the child in the story, we discover that every challenge we face in the classroom is an opportunity for growth. It’s in those moments, when things feel overwhelming, that we learn just how strong and creative we can be. And really, who else but teachers can turn chaos into learning and still manage to laugh about it at the end of the day?

As we discussed the story, I couldn’t help but think about how it connects to our house system at school. For a bit of context, Amistad is part of the RCA (Ron Clark Academy) House System. Think of it like a team or a family within the larger school community. We support each other not only academically, but emotionally too. Leading Amistad has given me a front-row seat to watch these students grow, and they inspire me as much as I try to inspire them. Our house meetings aren’t just pep talks—they’re real, honest conversations about life’s ups and downs. We’re all in this together.

We talk about things like perseverance (not giving up, even when things are hard), courage (being brave enough to face challenges), and grit (sticking with something even when it gets tough). And let me tell you, when you’re a fourth-grader trying to make sense of school and life, that’s no small feat! But the magic of Amistad is that we remind the students—and each other—that no one has to face challenges alone. We share our struggles, and through that, we find strength as a community. It’s through this support that we turn problems into possibilities—and trust me, it works.

Now, as teachers, we have our own set of challenges too—whether it’s trying to squeeze 25 hours of work into a 24-hour day or figuring out how to adapt to a new curriculum without losing our minds. But like the child in Yamada’s book, when we face these challenges head-on, we often find solutions we didn’t even think were possible. And isn’t that what we want for our students? To show them that problems don’t stop us; they help shape us into something better.

The core of Amistad is built around community and growth. Every house meeting reminds us that we’re all in this together—students, teachers, everyone. We laugh, we learn, and yes, sometimes we stumble. But we always get back up. Every time we face a problem, we grow a little stronger, a little wiser, and a lot more resilient.

As I wrapped up our meeting today, I left the students with a question: “What will you do with your problem?” And as they thought about it, I found myself reflecting on the same thing. Teaching is full of challenges, but it’s also full of opportunities. The key is how we choose to respond. Do we run and hide, or do we face those challenges head-on, knowing that within every problem lies the chance to grow, to learn, and to inspire?

As educators and members of Amistad, we choose the latter. We face the challenges, knowing that together, we’re stronger. So let’s keep pushing, keep growing, and keep encouraging one another—because at the end of the day, it’s not the problem that defines us but how we rise to meet it. The truth is, that every challenge we face, whether in the classroom or in life, is a stepping stone to something greater.

Together, through Amistad, we’re not just solving problems; we’re turning them into possibilities. And with a little humor, a lot of heart, and the support of our amazing community, there’s nothing we can’t handle. So, the next time you face a challenge, ask yourself: What opportunity is hiding in there, just waiting for you to uncover it? You might be surprised at what you find!