You Get What You Pay For

I have worked with kids to what has seemed my whole life.  My mom has been a Sunday School Teacher for over 35 years and worked in the school system as I grew up, and my grandmother has been the children's minister in her church for the past 45 years, no joke.  So I have had hands on training my whole life.  I come from a family of teachers.  Its a gift to be able to not only obtain but to share knowledge.  I then started working with the Church of God state youth group and working a month in camps at age 14 yearly, then  I became a youth pastor upon graduation of high school.  I taught piano and voice for the next 13 years as well as work in the public school system as a choir and music director where I was the minority.  I say all that to also say this.  Not a single child I have ever taught has been of privilege.  Not ONE child had a private education from an elite school.  However, all of my students have succeeded.  WHY???  Because I'm a freakin' awesome teacher.  It's not that I know everything, it's that I know how to motivate kids and instill pride in them and make them feel good about themselves.  I truly love kids and everything about them, even things outside of my classroom.  I absolutely love all people and the potential God has put in them.  I especially care for those that are hurting and God purposely puts in my path.
    So I have something just burning in me from Friday afternoon.  I actually had a respected parent tell me that my expectations are too high.  They went on to say that I could not expect my choirs to do as well as the surrounding high schools in the district because we have minority students (23%), so naturally we have "less willing" students to pull into our choir program.  They also said that I could not expect the behavior that I have asked for in my hand book (aka. keep their mouth shut during instruction).  They also said that if I try to punish the students bad behavior that my program would dwindle down and I would have a job.  I just listened with the burning desire to tell her where to put her information, but I didn't.  That would not be Christ like.
    Maybe it's all the Joel Olsteen sermons I heard while going to Lakewood Church, but I truly believe in going beyond expectations.  To rise above who you are as a person and strive toward that goal.  I know that every child can do that.  To say that a child has too many problems in their own lives to focus on how they act or to better themselves is nothing but trash talk.  I will not listen to it, and in fact I pity the person that believes that you are destined for a straight path of what you are brought up with.  My path goes forward and higher every day and the longer I am at this school the students will see that through me.  God says that we lead by example and my hope is that I my passion for moving forward and higher will catch on to every student I not only teach but come in contact with in the halls.  I am doing what I am destined to do.  And for those of you who know me; could you imagine me doing anything else or expecting less?
Bottom Line:  People will give you what you not only expect but accept.

My First Day at School (an email I meant to post a month ago) ha!

So I Ieave the apt, which is maybe 5 minutes from my school at 7:05 this morning.  First they were doing road work in that .4 mile stretch that I thought was finished.  I then get to the "teacher one way drive" and they are letting kids out with a HUGE line, so I have to leave the school, turn left (no light) and go in the back way & go backwards up the one way street :), this takes almost 15 minutes alone.  I get out & go through the door with Cohen who suppose to have been at campus daycare already, it is now 7:28.  I unlock the door, and tell my full class of freshmen that I will be right back.  I then run with Cohen to the iother side of this 5A H.S. campus with full diaper bag in tow to drop him off (the outside way so the principal doesn't see).  I then cut through the building & get to class.  I was sweating, hair fallen & sticky & looking like a hot mess.  What a way to start out your year.  So, instead of going over rules, which number 2 is DON'T BE LATE TO CLASS ha ha, we played get to know me games.  I can now fall over & pass out during my planning time!!!  I YI YI  ++++  Who starts school at 7:30am???  That's a dumb idea anyway lol.

 

The awsome part about it all though???....  When I opened the door expecting kids to be loud and up out of their seats, I found everyone sitting, talking quietly, and smiling when I came through the door in proper uniform and ready.  Wow, I am going to love it here.  Thank you God for this job!