Tomorrow, students in our area will return to school for
another year full of opportunities and new beginnings. Hallways and classrooms
will be noisy as students trade stories of their summer happenings and faculty
and staff help direct new students and guide returning students back into the
rhythm of a routine.
Maybe your child is going to a new school for the first time,
and as a parent you are almost overwhelmed with all of the emotions you are
facing. Leaving your bright-eyed kindergartner in a big classroom full of
possibilities will be, I’m sure, wonderful and difficult all at the same time.
The same is true for the parent who will watch their high school student drive
to school for the first time.
It’s a new year full of opportunities and new beginnings.
As a teacher’s wife, I can confidently report the resilient
effort teachers invest in preparing for the first day of school.
In many ways, the anticipation of teachers regarding the
first day of school outweighs that of every student entrusted to their care.
Teachers, you are super stars!
Your summer break has consisted of thinking of new classroom
furniture configurations, purchasing countless supplies, and adding to your
ever-growing to-do list.
As you gather plans for your first week’s lessons, you are
unsure of what you will encounter. Even teachers-pay-teachers worksheets can’t
always prepare you for the difficult circumstances your students will carry
into your classroom.
Several of your students have a story of a hardship. They
need someone to guide them. They need someone to stand up for them, to be a
voice when others who should speak on their behalf remain silent.
Many students will rely on you for affirmation because
they’ve never had a blessing or positive word spoken over them.
Some students will find peace being in your presence because
their home life is always in turmoil. You have the chance to be consistent and
show them, through your words and actions, that they have a trustworthy adult
in their life.
Teachers, you are super stars!
Regardless of test scores and your school district’s lofty
expectations of what you should be able to accomplish, know this:
You are more than a test score. You are a voice for those
unable to speak for themselves.
You are more than your lesson plans. Your actions reveal to
every individual student that they can make a difference and that they are
worth your time.
You are more than your limited resources. You are creative
and capable of making anything from Dollar Tree into something exquisite. You
don’t allow limitations to cause anything to be neglected. You choose to invest
in your students because they need to know that they are worth it.
You are more than (fill in the blank).
Being a professional educator isn’t always the most
respected career.
But you didn’t choose to teach because you desired
notoriety.
You chose to teach because you know the difference one
positive influence can make.
You chose to teach because you want to make an abused child
feel loved.
You chose to teach because you want to encourage the child
who isn’t performing on grade level that they are able to overcome.
You chose to teach because you want to make the child who
feels forgotten feel cherished.
You chose to teach because you desire to make the world a
better place.
As you prepare to enter into another school year tomorrow, I
am filled with great optimism and hope. My husband will be at a different
school this year and I could not be more proud! By choosing to teach at our
district’s “alternative school” I am excited about the stories he will share
about small victories as our family has dinner each night. I am delighted to
pray for his students as we learn about them and their circumstances. But I am
most proud of his willingness to go where many would never consider going. I am
excited about the investment he will make in the life of each of his students.
Teaching is no easy task. I pray your year is marked by
great accomplishments in the lives of your students. But I also pray that you
will have endurance and patience as you deal with students who don’t behave
well, who talk constantly, and cause disruption.
The Lord has entrusted every student in your classroom to
you. Though difficult at times, I pray you will choose to see the bigger
picture and realize that your response to their actions will help mold their
future.
Your job is never done. Your energy level is never full. But
your call to teach is what keeps you going.
Teachers, you are more valuable than you know!
