By Charles Sosnik
Next week brings another Turkey Thursday, another Gobble Fest, and another reason to be thankful. The season reminds me to pause and count my blessings.
For those who don’t know me, I’m on the older side of whoever happens to be in the room. I remember a time when I was the youngest person there—a whiz kid, a wunderkind. At some point you shift from being the youngest to being one of the elders. You notice small courtesies: younger people in their 30s and 40s holding the door, calling you “sir.” For that, and for the many years that led me here, I am grateful. Sixty-two years and still going strong is a good place to start a list of thanks.
Professionally, I’m enjoying myself more than at any other point in my career. After four decades in education journalism and media, I’ve built a wide network and the privilege of working with top-tier professionals. I can pick up the phone and connect people, solve problems, and make things happen—and that ability feels like a gift.
I’m entering my sixth year working with the team at the Learning Counsel. LeiLani Cauthen is one of the most insightful thinkers I’ve encountered on the future of education; her writing over the past decade has been consistently predictive and clear, even through the disruptions of the pandemic. Doug Cauthen complements her brilliantly—calm, thoughtful, and a pleasure to work with. Together they make a formidable partnership in education research and media.
Beyond that collaboration, I write regularly—columns, features, and opinion pieces—and remain amazed that people read and respond to my work. Perhaps there’s truth in the old line from Fiddler on the Roof: when you’re older, people assume you know something.
On the family front, my son is at Appalachian State University and doing very well. It’s not just his grades that make me thankful but his enthusiasm for learning—especially his passion for Finance. It’s a relief and a joy to see him engaged and excited about his studies. When he’s happy and motivated, it lifts the whole household.
Earlier this year I experienced COVID. I wasn’t hospitalized, but some symptoms have lingered, and my doctors have labeled it long COVID. I’m thankful they have a diagnosis and optimistic that symptoms will continue to improve. I look forward to the day when those lingering effects finally ease.
Health is high on my gratitude list. It was a challenging year for many people close to me, but most are recovering and on the mend. With signs pointing toward stronger health in 2023, I am hopeful and thankful for the progress we’ve seen.
I believe we’re moving beyond the worst of the pandemic. While the past few years brought real hardships, they also accelerated innovation in education—new models of learning, better digital tools, and broader conversations about student and staff well-being. There will be an adjustment period as schools and districts incorporate these changes, and we must remain vigilant about the emotional health of students, teachers, and administrators. Still, the education community is filled with smart, committed people, and I’m confident we’ll navigate this thoughtfully. Our learners will be better for it, and I’m grateful for that outcome.
When I step back and assess what I have to be thankful for, the list feels long and full. My life has been generous: caring coworkers, a rewarding and challenging career, opportunities to help others, and the comfort of food on the table and a warm home in winter and cool air in summer. These simple things are profoundly grounding.
As a small but sincere pleasure, I have a little dog—half Chihuahua, half Dachshund—who thinks I’m a genius and keeps life lively. I live in Gastonia, NC, which suits me fine. My commute is unbeatable—ten steps—and traffic is a non-issue. Life is pretty good.
About the author
Charles Sosnik is an education journalist and editor and serves as Editor in Chief at the Learning Counsel. An EP3 Education Fellow, he leverages deep roots in the education community to bring context to the larger education narrative. Charles writes frequently for influential education outlets, including the Learning Counsel, EdNews Daily, EdTech Digest, and ET Magazine. Unabashedly Southern, he often says he is an editor by trade and Southern by the grace of God.