As many of you know I have had a career as an educator since 2001. I use the word educator to describe myself now instead of teacher since I am no longer in the traditional role in K-12. I still work very closely with schools, districts, EDU orgs, and have classes in higher ed where I train future teachers, but all day in a classroom with students is not the norm for me during this period of life.
It was for 14 years though, and I can assure you, I have not forgotten where I came from. My years in elementary school teaching helped to mold me into the grown up I am today. As a teacher I learned so very much about how I wanted to exist as an adult in this often chaotic world. I will forever appreciate the lessons that teaching taught me.
I learned grace.
I learned patience.
I learned acceptance.
I learned diversity.
I learned equity.
I learned inclusion.
I learned flexibility.
I learned adaptations.
I learned determination.
I learned advocacy.
I learned kindness.
I learned love.
I learned more grace.
I learned more grace.
I learned more grace.
I will forever have Teacher Appreciation. The profession gave me so much. I am forever changed because of the students that passed through my classroom.
This teacher appreciation week, I applaud all those that are still on the front lines of battle. The profession has always been political as every single piece of the work is dictated by legislation, but these days it’s gotten even more so. The daily battles our teachers are facing from every single front are overwhelming.
During this week of appreciation, many of them are facing proposed laws that would land them in jail for teaching love, acceptance, and history. Many of them are afraid for their lives because of the political climate. Many of them are leaving the profession to seek safety and stability in the midst of the madness.
God, I wish them so much more than this. It’s all so heartbreaking and terrifying.
I included this blank graphic in case you wanted to snag it and write your own note for the interwebs. It is formatted for an IG post but should work fine on other platforms too.