This is my 18th year as a public educator.
Although every year of my career has included wonderful experiences with wonderful people crossing my path, 3 of those 18 years have an extra special place in my heart--- the three years I spent working in Wichita Falls, Texas' "Northside". But it was not the day-to-day things that I did in the classroom that made those years so amazing; rather it was the people with whom I worked those three years. And when I say that, I don't mean the colleagues.... I am talking about the FAMILIES in that neighborhood.
Yes, I am a supporter of integration in all communities, but in the case of Wichita Falls' Northside, there was something very special about this neighborhood because of the way it had been preserved as a predominantly Mexican-American community. NEVER BEFORE and NEVER SINCE have I felt so welcomed in a community. The students and their siblings and their parents made me feel like I was a part of their families on a daily basis.
And now because of Facebook, some of them have "found me" again.... Imagine my surprise when 5000 miles away from Wichita Falls, Texas' Northside community, I receive FB friend requests from "kids" I knew when they were only 12 years old.... They are now all grown up, some with families of their own (which does AGE me just a bit!), and yet they sought me out, posting things like "OMG I just found my 6th grade teacher!" I have enjoyed looking at pictures from their lives and hearing about how they are doing... and then I get a post like this on my wall, and I am reminded why it is that I do what I do.
5 comments:
Wow, I can´t say that every teacher makes an impact but it´s very clear you have and what a wonderful feeling it must give you to know that you touched their lives and they are touching yours...another example of what an amazing person you are Miss Kelli :-))
Oh, that is so wonderful - and what I miss most about not teaching anymore.
This post tells me more about who you are than anything you have ever posted. I just retired from 42 years are a Social Worker and Social Work Supervisor. I am now on FB with "children" who sought me out after decades to say thank you to me. So many people do their job. Not many people realize that it matters most that their heart is at the center of all things.
I can honestly say you made a difference in my life you made me believe in myself that I could be someone and make something out of my life I always wanted to tell you how grateful I was and am to have had you as my teacher <3
That is exactly why I wanted to be a teacher when I was younger. I ended up in nursing, but find it just as rewarding in other ways. And yay facebook for reuniting students with their favorite teachers!
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