The end (for now) - The home stretch

I was a first-year teacher, driving to school and thinking about a thousand things I should have done yesterday and a thousand more that required my attention as soon as possible. If I hadn’t needed both hands on the steering wheel, I would have started adding things to my to-do list right then. But I did need those hands on the wheel, especially since there was a school bus in the opposite lane. Its signals were flashing, indicating that it would soon stop to pick up the students waiting at the corner. I braked, and after my car rolled to a stop, I watched the driver motioning those students onto the school bus. That driver then closed the door, checked to make sure the students were seated, waved quickly to me, and then drove on.

It struck me in that moment that throughout the county there were countless individuals working to make sure that students would have the opportunity to sit in my classroom. Parents were getting children up and ready. Bus drivers were transporting kids. Custodians were unlocking doors and turning on lights in the school building. Even adults completely outside the educational world were working, earning salaries that would be taxed to pay me, and other educators, to work with these kids.

What an awesome responsibility.

At 7:25 am, I would not have a thousand things to do. I would have thirty-three students to teach.

I would also have the support of a community. All of those people who were working to get the students into my classroom were demonstrating in various ways that they believed in me and in what I was doing. They were also reminding me that I was not alone.

Look around you. There are people who appreciate you. I am one of them. I hope that this year you have found some degree of support. And in this last essay, I want to remind you about all of the other people who appreciate you and can support you as you continue to teach. Please ask those around you for help when you need it. In addition, remember to help each other. And continue believing in both your students and yourselves.

I’ll conclude with two genuine expressions of gratitude:

Thank you so much for allowing me the amazing privilege of communicating with you through this weblog.

And thank you for teaching.