A word to my fellow teachers and professors

[Texas Kid]

Nothing funny or witty or my normal rants. Most know I am retiring, and I wondered if I could leave the new and young teachers a bit of advice in case we don't make it back. Know what you do makes a difference, no matter how bad it gets or how much you sit back and relive your failures. Over the next few years you will see faces come and go, both of students and staff. Remember every life touches another. God willing, should you stay in the business long enough and at the same location long enough, you may even teach children of your students and grand children. I hope you do not lose all your new teacher zeal, we really do change worlds. Maybe not the big world, but the world of our students. Hopefully someday our profession will not come down to a test or a letter grade, but what we were designed to be, a beacon of light in the dark nights of today and the spark of future tomorrows.

As a favor to me, there was a series called the Twilight Zone, the original, not today's knock off. One episode is called The Changing of the Guard. Watch it, and those time you think your ready to throw in the towel and give up, watch it again. Make that difference. Keep being that spark. Be kind as you inspire the future of some of the kids.

I have had my share of victories and my share of times when I was ready to do something else. Stick it out, it's worth it. The retire pay stinks, but there are other perks that you will never have anyplace else.

[Vegas]

Apr 1, 2020 22:50:22 GMT -5 Texas Kid said:

Nothing funny or witty or my normal rants. Most know I am retiring, and I wondered if I could leave the new and young teachers a bit of advice in case we don't make it back. Know what you do makes a difference, no matter how bad it gets or how much you sit back and relive your failures. Over the next few years you will see faces come and go, both of students and staff. Remember every life touches another. God willing, should you stay in the business long enough and at the same location long enough, you may even teach children of your students and grand children. I hope you do not lose all your new teacher zeal, we really do change worlds. Maybe not the big world, but the world of our students. Hopefully someday our profession will not come down to a test or a letter grade, but what we were designed to be, a beacon of light in the dark nights of today and the spark of future tomorrows.

As a favor to me, there was a series called the Twilight Zone, the original, not today's knock off. One episode is called The Changing of the Guard. Watch it, and those time you think your ready to throw in the towel and give up, watch it again. Make that difference. Keep being that spark. Be kind as you inspire the future of some of the kids.

I have had my share of victories and my share of times when I was ready to do something else. Stick it out, it's worth it. The retire pay stinks, but there are other perks that you will never have anyplace else.

Congrats to you Texas Kid on your retirement from teaching!

I have 28 days left in this school year (we are working from home at the moment like most teachers across the country, but we don't have to make up any of these missed days we have been told) and then I will have 16 years completed. 14 more years to go for me (probably only 13 years though as I can cash in sick days for that 30th year, so I will be retiring in my 50s.) In Nevada our pensions are actually pretty good though compared to the pensions for teachers in most states.

Teaching is often a thankless profession and I have seen many get burned out and quit. But I personally have been good about not letting things stress me out and there are indeed some real perks to the job such as the schedule (especially if you are a wrestling fan like myself) including the large amounts of time off. Plus there are good days and bad days, but it is definitely never boring.

Enjoy your retirement!

[Chad Olson]

I want to thank Texas Kid, Vegas, and my brother Cory, as well as any other teachers on the board, for all of their hard work. I've always appreciated what teachers do for our children, but with the school closures, I appreciate them 100x more! My wife and I are blessed in that we can both work from home, but we're also trying to give our kids a little bit of structure and academic work, not just an extended spring break. My wife has worked really hard to research things for them to do, but it's only a small part of the education they get every day. They had a homeroom meeting via Zoom yesterday and I think they enjoyed the 30 minutes visiting with their classmates.

I'm sorry it's taken such a catastrophe to bring this to light, but hats off to all of our teachers and educators!

Congrats on your retirement, Texas Kid!

[Texas Kid]

Thanks. Did not know we had so many teachers on here. Glad to know y'all.

[Chad Olson]

Forgot about Matt, sorry sir!

[TTX]

yep, so many fine people in that profession.

[Vegas]

phantasyfan is another teacher here on the board

I found out today during our weekly online faculty conference that a former student of mine who took both my AP Human Geography class as a 9th grader and my AP World History class as a 10th grader just got accepted into MIT. This is the first time one of my former students has been accepted into MIT (although I do also have a former student currently playing in the NBA.)

[phantasyfan]

Congrats on retiring and truer words could not have been said. What we do really does make a difference. I cannot tell you how many emails and schoology messages from my kids I got asking how I’m doing and letting me know that they are ok. When people ask me what it is I do I tell them “ I touch the future ....I teach” I’m hoping we do get back this year because I’ve had some of these kids for 4 years (I’m a high school teacher)and I wanna get a chance to wish them well and not say good bye because they all email and come back to visit and let me know how there doing but to say until we meet again. I also for the past 3 years have bought a pair of plain red Vans and had my graduating seniors sight them with sharpie and I wear them to graduation and put them in my display case in my class room. It’s silly but the kids are like someday I’m gonna be on one of your shoes and they look forward to it.

[Chad Olson]

phantasyfan That is a cool tradition! Thanks for all of your hard work!