My last name has been pronounced incorrectly my whole life. At my college graduation, in every new job I've held, and multiple times by people even after correcting them. I have found that when starting in a new job (or for our students - a new school), it is crucial to get the pronunciation correct from the start. I had so many experiences in my early adulthood where someone pronounced my last name incorrectly and other people caught onto this incorrect pronunciation. A name is part of an identity, and it can mean more to individuals of certain cultures. Finune shared a beautiful story about what her name means to the staff of Maplemere and it solidified this point even more for me. For some individuals, a name tells the story of their family, where they come from, or other important features of their life. To be a calibrator, I will plan to never assume I know how to pronounce a name when I meet someone for the first time and give my students an opportunity to share things about their name (origin, its importance, etc.) if they feel comfortable.
