I was THAT Teacher
I read a great blog post last week entitle "We're All THAT Teacher". As I read it, I thought about myself 3 years ago as a Spanish teacher, with 3 children and a husband of her own at home, trying to coach varsity girls basketball and teach Spanish, all at the same time. It was exhausting! I had taught the same level for over 15 years and although I was maturing and growing, my students kept coming to me as 13, 14, & 15 years old kids. I saw the same behaviors from similar students and I felt myself forgetting why I got into teaching in the first place.
As I read the blog, I heard these words from the author, Robyn Jackson, "You see, THAT teacher didn't come into teaching bitter, non-compliant, or mean. THAT teacher most likely started out excited, hopeful, even mission driven. But over time, THAT teacher allowed the challenges of our profession to sour their enthusiasm and poison their passion. So in a way, we're all just one disappointment away from becoming THAT teacher." That was me! I was losing my passion! I was one disappointment away from becoming "THAT teacher." Not because I didn't still care about the students in my classroom or the players on the basketball court, I was feeling defeated by the many challenges that stand in the way of teachers and coaches. It was at that point that I knew I needed a change.
Ms. Jackson said it best in her blog, "Passion isn't a luxury in this profession; it is an absolute requirement. Bring anything less than your fully passionate self to work each day and you have put yourself on the pathway to becoming THAT teacher, regardless of your role." Teaching is hard work, but it's so fulfilling. Each day I have the privilege of working with students and teachers that help me realize how great it is to be a teacher. Becoming an instructional coach saved me from becoming "THAT teacher" and I hope I can pay it forward by helping other teachers through the challenges of our profession to experience the joys!
