(e-mailed to my high school English, Spanish, History and Public Service teachers)
It is standardized testing season in Colorado and so as a
“specials” teacher, I have had the duty of assisting with proctoring tests the
last full week. With all of this time to just stroll up and down the classroom
observing the students, (which is very tiring as you probably know!) I have had
a lot of time to think, to reflect and construct some thoughts that I wanted to
send your way.
My principal has been asking select staff members to ‘share
their story’ at staff meetings this year. In other words, at the beginning of
our weekly PD, he chooses one random person to come up and tell everyone why
they are a teacher. With the chance of being called up one of these days, I
have been reflecting on that very question. It would be easy to just chalk up
this career choice for me to chance and luck, that I got selected to be a Teach
for America corps member out of college and luckily landed in Denver where the
schools aren’t “too bad” and I can call in sick days conveniently when the
mountains have got some new inches of snow… But honestly, when I think about
why it makes sense for ME to be a teacher, I think about the learning
experiences and relationships I had with all of you in high school.
From what I can remember, I did well in school when I was
young because I liked it. I liked learning and feeling the confidence that came
with presenting and sharing my knowledge with my teachers, peers and family.
But as I got into high school, it was harder, the subjects, the social life,
the impending future. Despite those inevitable difficulties, I enjoyed high
school because of the experiences you provided for me and the connections you
made with me as my teachers. Whether it was seeing a certain clip from John
Stewart and understanding a political concept, or a deep conversation about a
Shakespeare play, doing draft upon draft of a paper,a field trip to Washington
D.C., a field trip to a play, discussing effective public service and business
strategies through watching “The Apprentice,” doing service in the community,
organizing and running food drives, speaking and joking around in Spanish,
encouraging travel and international opportunity, encouraging one-on-one
conversations about the future, about life, encouragement through hard times,
sharing successes and learning and growing from failures…. All of these things
are memories and skills that I bring with me every day I walk into my own
classroom. I understand the extreme importance of student engagement, because
you all had me engaged from the moment I was in your class. You taught me the
importance of having positive relationships that sometimes warrant tough love,
but always at the end of the day, knowing it is out of love. You showed me high
expectations, not settling for my minimum amount of work or effort, but pushing
me above and beyond to pursue whatever I wanted to.
As a public school teacher for 4 years now, and who knows
for how much longer, I am proud to say that a large part of the reason I am a
teacher is because of you guys, my teachers. I just wanted to say thank you to
all 4 of you for the ways you inspired me and the ways you inspire your current
students, co-workers and your own children every day. Thank you from the bottom
of my heart! I miss you and would love to hear what is going on with each of
you where you are now.
My best,
Caroline
