I recently sat in a room full of educators from various schools for poverty training.
During a break, a dull roar was all but silenced as a teacher exclaimed, "I am so proud to have been his teacher," after receiving news of a student being accepted early into college. She was his second grade teacher.Teachers smiled, then quietly began to brag about their years of service, summers spent in trainings and hours preparing lessons like badges of honor instead of the complaints they are sometimes mistaken for.It becomes easy to fall into the trappings in listing all of the things that are wrong with schools and teaching.I had the privilege to sit in a room full of educators who love what they do.Do they love every moment of each day? Probably not.Much like being a parent, teaching has the ability to drain you in ways you never knew existed because of the respect and understanding you have for the title you hold.The everyday victories become our routine expectations as the impossible becomes obtainable. Because of this, I am proud to be a teacher.-- Heather Tinker, WeatherfordHave more to add? News tip? Tell us
