Teacher Teacher Teacher

I know what I want to be when I grow up!

Many kids want to be Doctors, Lawyers, Professional Athletes…maybe even an astronaut.  I knew right away in Middle School that I was going to be a teacher.  Part of it was people telling me I was good with kids, but the other part was me knowing I was and having fun while coaching or mentoring them.  No brainer right?!

College selection was no difficulty…I went to Western Michigan and maximized my college experience. I was able to be an athlete in synchronized ice skating (who knew?) and also go to one of the State’s best schools in education.  Two birds one stone.  I have to laugh though…people always say…you really learn how to be a teacher your first year…that all those classes and internships don’t really prepare you until your first classroom and first year.  SO TRUE!  Although…my first year of teaching was straight SURVIVAL!  I moved from Michigan to Florida for a teaching job at an inner-city school that was low in every way.  I was barely able to keep my sanity, teach and match expectations given to me by a fancy superintendent making as much as our US President.  What was I thinking I would ask myself the first few months.  This was way harder then I imagined…but it didn’t stop me.

After that first year…I got a grip and transferred to a different inner-city school (the one I was at turned magnet school) that was in the same neighborhood with the same equally difficult environments…teaching and life wise.  I have to tell you though, what a difference that first year of teaching made for my career.  It thickened my skin, allowed me to look at the realities and dreams of a teacher.  Reality…you teach to the test no mater what you think and people tell you.  Dreams…I didn’t want to accept that…I wanted to do hands on projects that gave these students a chance to experience a life other then they were used to! HA.  I learned to balance the above…while my piss poor teacher salary took a monster hit as often these kids had nothing but the dirty clothes on their back.  It could possibly break your heart seeing them go home for a two week vacation because you never knew if they were getting fed or not by their relatives.  I would say parents but often these students came from homes where Grandma was raising them, one parent was incarcerated and the other was too busy trying to provide or too busy with some drug in their system.  I learned that this school was about tough love, boundaries and selflessness.  How humbling.

I spent a few years teaching there to my surprise.  I LOVED it there.  It was only the administration that turned me bitter.  After ignoring an issue of a parent trying to strangle me…yes…STANGLE me that I was pissed.   They were too worried about covering their ass and dealing with this that I learned that they wouldn’t protect me in the end.  They could screw off…I had had it…even after loving these students and knowing I was meant to help.  I guess God had something/somewhere else in mind as far as helping children.

I put in for a transfer to a different  school that following year.  I had heard wonderful things about TINKER..public school on MacDill AFB…what a wonderful new place to teach…inspire…learn?!  People often said that teachers NEVER left there.  They retained people, built a family…a COMMUNITY.  How true.

Tinker was everything of those.  I found a family I never had when it came to work.  Sounds silly.  But teaching is hard work.  I know people have gotten that email chain where there is a doctor, lawyer and many other people asking a teacher what they do for a living…that crap is true…teachers DO IT ALL!!!!!!!  Tinker just made it a little easier to do all of those things  Administration supported, Parents (there are always a few who DON’T) cared about their children and were pretty much willing to help in any way and lastly, students were thirsty to learn.  Funny enough (or not really) the family dynamics somewhat resembled my former school.  Often a single-parent home while one was gone on a TDY, deployment or gone…as in GONE GONE…served their country with more honor then I could ever imagine.  These kids were special. In fact, they were an honor to teacher and to be honest, they reinstalled my patriotism.

Tinker was home to me for four years.  Doesn’t seem that long…I wish I could say I was still there most days.  But I am not, just like some of my former students…I made my first military move with my very own soldier.  Those students and families taught me so much about life, its challenges and how to be ready for anything…good or bad.  I miss them EVERY DAY!  Great kids, wonderful parents and some of the best friends/teachers I could have EVER worked with.

To bring this to a close…my thoughts yesterday as I started writing this is my head…A good teacher (one with passion) Is one that still wants to do this job everyday…even knowing that they won’t change politics minds, that parents will still not like them some days, that not every student will get it…this TEACHER still comes back everyday wanting to help, teach, inspire, love and just TRY to make changes for the better.  I am that teacher.

It is not an easy job…that is why they do not pay us the Big bucks.  The payoff is WAY bigger.  My husband would disagree…he is still waiting for me to be his sugar mama….maybe…one day…

To my students…old and new…embrace learning…it is your ticket to the future!

Here are a few photos of students...