It can be really *difficult* to work in a school district that makes a multitude of decisions at the administrative and school board level that you, as an employee, community member, and parent, disagree with. It is demoralizing and gutting, and can feel like one betrayal after another.
I am so thankful to Tom Hayden for writing FOIA Gras, and of course to the Evanston Roundtable for covering these issues with fidelity and accuracy, because we absolutely need to be accountable, and the public deserves to know what is happening with their tax dollars.
But that doesn’t mean they are fun to read. Frankly, it’s a lot. A LOT of bad news.
Seemingly every morning we wake up to a new depressing headline featuring subpar decision making at the district level. Personally, I’m battling feelings of hopelessness.
However, chaos aside, District 65 educators remain committed to having a fabulous 2024-2025 school year and are determined to create a culture of positivity, respect, and academic excellence in our schools.
It is undeniably stressful to think about starting a school year surrounded by chaos and financial mismanagement, especially amidst a budget crisis that has been named, repeatedly, yet continues to go unaddressed.
Not to mention that this year, I personally have some extra skin in the game. My son will start kindergarten in this very district! So, I’m sorry, but this has to be a great year, not just for him, obviously, but for all the children that are about to come through our collective doors.
Yesterday, a few of my colleagues and I spent a couple of hours at new teacher orientation, welcoming a slew of brand new District 65 educators on behalf of DEC, our teacher’s union. As an aside, DEC has been working alongside administration throughout the summer negotiating a contract, and they will continue to work until an agreement exists that our community and membership can be proud of.
Yesterday reminded me, yet again, that there is nothing quite like being around brand new educators at the start of any school year. It’s akin to an extra shot of espresso in your morning latte. They are so excited! They’re so full of hope and optimism! So ready to make a difference! I often volunteer at these events just to feed off of their energy.
Because we as educators have to be hopeful. We have no other choice. We cannot and will not feed into the negativity that surrounds us. We want to feel inspired by our leaders, but when that fails, we charge forward and inspire ourselves. I garner so much inspiration from my colleagues. So many worked diligently throughout the summer preparing for this upcoming year. Educators attended conferences, completed professional reading and graduate course work, as well as began their planning for the first few weeks of school, often purchasing their own supplies.
We have to remain positive, because the kids rely on our energy.
I. Love. This. Job.
I say this about once a week to my students. Because teaching is the best job in the world. I could be a lot of other places, doing a lot of other things, but I’m here. I love watching a group of children evolve, collectively and individually. Throughout a school year they become these incredible little people in front of my very eyes. It’s exhausting work, but it’s worth it.
Earlier this summer, I received a message from a former student; he’s a recent college graduate. In the note, he thanked me for igniting his interest in writing and informed me that he completed a major in journalism. I had this kid in sixth grade. I don’t delude myself, I know I’m not the reason for his success. But my influence helped spark his interest in literacy and writing. This is why we teach.
I hate that educational management and corporations all over the country have co-opted this idea of “an educator’s purpose,” and rebranded it to suit their own narrative. Remember your why, has become an educational-consulting-catch-phrase the world over. What they’re not saying is: remember your why… because you are a disposable cog, don’t forget, you yourself do not matter. Be sure to look the other way while we treat you like garbage. Do what we say the first time and always say yes.
But no, I’m here to remind educators not to let them take this idea of educational purpose away from us. Our purpose is important, but it’s not for them. We need to keep that close.
I know why I came into this field and why I remain. It’s because I want to fight for children and make each and every one of my decisions with their best interests at heart. I want to ignite a passion for literacy. I want to show every kid that reading is for them. I want to expose my students to enriching, quality, and diverse literature. I know how to do that, because—spoiler alert—I am a professional expert. So please let me.
By supporting educators, your boots on the ground, you support children. It’s that simple. And if you can’t do that, well… we’re going to do our job regardless.