The Real MVPs

So the last time we chatted was January 1^st, the day I shared with the world that I accepted a teaching position at a high school. What seemed to be out of the blue was something I had desired to do for over a decade finally happened.

And let me tell you friends, it is the most challenging job I’ve ever had, ever. I’ve worked in retail, started as a sales associate and worked my way up to being a store manager, helped a boss start a business and managed all things on the office side of it, worked in banking, obtained my loan originator license, served as a vice president of a non-profit, started my own non-profit, and also started a small business with my sister. I’ve done all the things. And not to toot my own horn, I think I’ve been pretty good at all the things I’ve done- all of my former employers would give me rave reviews, I have no doubts about it. I say this to say that I think it’s fair to say that I have ample experience and work ethic in the private and non-profit sector to know what a tough job is, and teaching is tough.

So when I hear leadership in our community make smug comments implying teachers don’t work hard, or aren’t good at what they do, or try to discredit those in my profession’s views, it angers me. Teachers are one of the hardest working, compassionate, selfless group of people and so vital to our community. 

And I’m proud to be one.

Let me give you a little insight of what it’s like to be a teacher as a day in the life of this one:

I work with over 130 students every single day, 33-35 at a time. These are students of every walk of life you can imagine. Some from some very amazing homes. But also some from some very broken homes, some who have to work to help support their families, some who are living with grandparents, aunts, uncles, and foster parents, some who are separated from their siblings, some who have to listen to their stepparent be abusive to their other parent, some who come to school hungry, some who are dealing with mental health issues, and so many other issues that causes education not to be at the forefront of their mind or even important to them at the moment. So trying to create an environment to where those students who are facing those tough challenges to temporarily forget about all those challenges so they can learn about the government and economics is no easy task. I put so much time and effort into making my classroom inviting and an environment to where every student feels safe every single day.

Now let’s talk about classroom management. Remember the 33-35 students in each class? Can you imagine having 33-35 teenagers in one classroom for 70 minutes with the goal of keeping them off of their phone and focused on the task at hand? It is no easy task. Some days it's like herding cats. When you have a class that large, if one student starts chatty Kathy’ing, it quickly escalates and you have multiple conversations going on all over the room. Then once you get everyone focused and back on task, an announcement comes on over the intercom or you get a phone call from the office and all it takes is that one small interruption for the chatter to begin and again, you have to get everyone focused and back on track. The mix of personalities in itself can be a challenge. Better yet, it can be exhausting.

Not only do each of those students come from different walks of life, they also have different learning styles and are at different levels educationally. Some students are visual learners, some are kinaesthetic, some are audio, some are verbal, and some are a combination of all. And several have special accommodations that have to be met in addition so trying to create a curriculum that touches on all of those styles is no easy task. Time is spent creating guided notes, lectures, group activities, finding engaging videos, integrating technology, creating educational games, and so much more. That’s on top of keeping the material relevant and engaging so they actually focus and learn and on a level that students who are behind can understand while also making it challenging for the students who are more advanced. Oh and then you have to continually assess to make sure students are grasping the concepts and when they aren’t, you have to reteach which means creating a new way to teach the content and in a time frame that doesn't put you too far behind since there is SO much content you are required to cover. 

You’ll notice I haven’t mentioned knowing the content you are teaching. That’s the easiest part of teaching. It is so much more than just being a subject matter expert. You can be the most knowledgeable person out there about that subject but it doesn’t mean you can effectively teach it. It truly is an art.

Then there is the paperwork. Allll the paperwork. I thought that meant just grading papers. Well it is that, and then a whole lot more. There is the bi-weekly monitoring you have to do for your students who are in special education, slips that have to be completed for interventions when students are failing, attendance, posting grades, sending parent communications, setting aside absent work for the students who miss (and they miss a lot), scheduling make-up tests/quizzes, planning and sending out reminders for the Teenage Republican meetings which I’m a co-sponsor of, updating the website to make sure students who miss can access what they missed so you aren’t wasting time in class getting them caught up.

Then there is all the time spent after hours. So many teachers put in some serious time after that bell rings at the end of the day. There are ballgames you have to work, school events, prom, graduation, field trips, coaching, and committee meetings. That's in addition to the work you didn't get done during planning. I get 70 minutes planning every day. Some days I get the full hour to myself, others I’m in an IEP meeting, staff meeting, PLC meeting, observing other teachers for grad school (more on that in a bit) or covering another teacher’s class who is absent because there is a substitute shortage. But even when I do get a full planning period, it’s never enough time to do all the things. I bring work home every single night whether it be grading papers, emailing parents, posting grades, planning for the following day’s classes, or just learning how to be a more effective teacher.  

See that’s the thing. I know I’m a new teacher but even the veteran teachers will attest that you will constantly try to find different ways to teach a lesson, for many reasons. Every class you have will be different and learn differently and relate differently, and that is even true as the years pass. Most of you reading this were likely taught in a way that is very different in how we teach students today. As society evolves, the classroom also has to evolve and I know how I teach today wont’ be how I’ll teach in 10, 15 years so I have to be sure I’m also learning and growing as a teacher.

Speaking of, even if I didn’t want to learn or grow as a teacher, I kinda have to. All teachers are required to get their master’s degree within 5 years of teaching. I have to do it within 3 through the program I am in. So on top of teaching, I am also a student. I have class 2 nights a week for 2 hours each. I also have assignments that I have to do every week. In addition, I have to observe other teachers of all different grade levels for several hours. This happens during my planning. Many teachers continue beyond their masters to better serve their students.

Other than the occasional full planning I get, it is full throttle from 8:00am-3:30pm. It is constant interactions, conversations, and total mind over-stimulation. The bathroom break is few and far between because you can’t leave students unattended. Even if you could, it’s hard to get away because someone is always at your desk sharing about something, which you don’t want to discourage, even if it means you have to learn how to guzzle down your lunch in 30 seconds or less, or eat it cold, or not at all or stand and eat. I found myself standing and eating on Easter with my family. There were plenty of seats. I’m just used to eating, standing, and talking. It’s what teachers do.

Teachers do a lot. So much more than it looks like on the outside. Every job I’ve had has been tough, I’m not downplaying them at all. But this is by far the toughest and most exhausting. It makes having/managing a business a walk in the park, no joke. When I come home from school, almost every single day I have to take a nap just to get through the rest of the evening (dinner, kids, school work, grad school classes, etc.). Now I'll admit a large part of that exhaustion comes from me having leukemia. But again, I've had several challenging jobs but none of them have pushed my health limits like teaching has. 

But chronic health issue aside, it would still be exhausting. I think it’s because of not only all of the reasons I’ve listed above, it’s also because teachers have a huge responsibility to be a mentor and influencer to every single student that they come in contact with. They have the ability to forever change a student’s life and their future. That is a huge responsibility that carries a lot of weight, enough to keep you up at night.

So why would anyone do it you ask? Obviously not for the money. Or the time off. I went to my class 3 different days over spring break. The only answer can be because of their passion. It is a true calling. What I love most about my job is those 130 kids I get to be around every single day. Even the ones who make me want to pull my hair out, those that make me feel like if I have to remind them one more time how to behave, I may very well scream. Yeah, even those kids. I do it for the high fives I get to give when a struggling student finally gets it. I do it for the tough love I know they need to ensure they are ready for the real world. (Most) of the kids are a joy to be around. They are inquisitive, they are funny, they are optimistic, they are kind, they are energetic, they are insightful, and they are inspiring. And the ones who aren’t, they just need to be loved. And teachers do just that. They’ve been doing it, all of this, for years, much longer than I have. They are the true MVPs.

So in light of what’s currently going on politically, know that teachers aren’t selfish or throwing a tantrum. They are simply doing what they do best—they are advocating for your kids, and for the future of our community, state, and country. If you want to know what you can do to help? Just show teachers some love and respect.