Reflections on almost 16 years of teaching; Times Flies When You Are Having Fun!

ME!

Yesterday, while eating dinner on my balcony, I started to think about my teaching career. I was thinking about the idea that next year will be my 5th year teaching at the school where I currently teach, and I have never been at the the same school for more than four years in my fifteen and a half years of teaching. (Follow your heart, and don't second guess it, and you will will know when to leave a job and when to stay!)

My first teaching job was in a juvenile center in Birmingham, Alabama. It was a holding place for students who were waiting to go to court for crimes that they may have committed. I am not sure why someone would place a twenty-three year old rookie teacher in a juvenile school, but I am so happy that they did. (We are always being prepared for next.)

My next teaching job was in Detroit, Michigan, and being from rural Alabama, I had never been in an inner city high school with metal detectors before. But, I am so happy that I ended up there. I worked in a school with very limited resources and no air conditioning. (Yes, Detroit does get hot.) However, I really did some great teaching there. I was stretched to make a way out of no way, and I did it. At this school with limited resources, I fell in love with teaching and literature. At this school is where I also fell in love with Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe. (However, when it's time to go; it's time to go!) Faith is taking one step at a time, even if you don't know where you are headed.

I really wanted to move to the DC area and work in Fairfax County, and that happened. DC was placed on my heart a long time ago. Didn't know why at the time, but it's crystal clear now. I use to say, "Everything that I need is in the DC area," and that statement is so true. However, I was not a fan of Fairfax County; I really wanted to work in a smaller district so......(You must know when to leave, and KNOW that everything will be alright.)

I tried a job outside of teaching for about three months, and I was a like a fish out of water; I am suppose to always work with words and maybe children.

Taking that job outside of teaching helped me to really understand that I am a "words person", and that is what I am suppose to do; work with words. This is when I also learned that the advice that people gives, tells you a whole lot about the people giving the advice.

This lady told me that I should take any teaching job just to get back in the door; maybe teach history. (A lover of literature teaching history? "Oh yea of little faith!")

I got a teaching job in an awful county in an awful school, but I was surrounded by some of the most talented teachers that I have ever met. Limited resources and horrible working conditions did not keep us from reaching our teaching peak. I did some of my best teaching at this school, and this is when I started teaching and fell in love with Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston. However, sometimes you must save yourself, and I could not longer teach in that environment so, after two years, I  moved on.......

The next school was much better and my teaching skills were getting better and better. However, I knew that this was not where I would be for long, I just had that feeling so.... after four years, I moved on.....

I ended up in a pure hell situation for a year, and I am so grateful for it, because that horrible teaching situation really, really, and I mean really, helps me to stay in a state of gratitude about where I currently teach. (Just know, there are teachers and students who are going to horrible places everyday in this country.)

Now, I am at a school that I really like. Yes, it has problems, but day to day, I am able to use words to inspire. I feel good about my teaching abilities, my knowledge of my subject matter, the relationships that I have cultivated etc.

I'm in a place where I do not need validation of my teaching abilities anymore; I know what I know and is willing to learn what I don't know. Every place where I have taught, I grew and invested in my best thing: ME.

Next year will be my fifth year at a school, and I am looking forward to it......Longevity does have its place as well.....

I'm just thinking!!!!!!

I can't shut my brain off.......