Friday Letter to Teachers

Many of you may not have heard my story, but it goes something like this.  I was not a very good student.  Somewhere between 3rd and 5th grade I kind of dropped from near the top of the class to somewhere towards the bottom.  I was probably ADD before there was such a thing, and some of you probably see some of those tendencies in me today.  I began to hate school, and never really fit into the class part of it.  What I never hated was learning.  I found an education though sports and 4-H.  I loved the hands on approach to learning that the coaches and 4-H leaders seemed to teach.  I had never gotten that in school.  I found out that if I wanted to learn more I could read and find resources outside of school that intrigued me.

It might also help you to know that my mother is an elementary school teacher.  I was her first pupil, and many of the things that she tried on me took, and she would in turn, take them to her classroom.

Through all of this, I was naive enough to think that I could change education.  I wanted to become a teacher and teach classes where struggling students could find better way to learn. I work hard at that.  I set high expectations for myself and my students, and I may even have changed some things for some students.

I tell you all this to say, I have been there.  I have been where the struggling students are, I have been where the good students area, and I have been where you are.  I know that you are stressed and that you are trying to do everything you can to get ready for those students. You are working on lessons and bulletin boards and building units and assessments.  You are doing everything you can so that each student will have their best year in education.  I can say this to each of you because I believe it is true.  

I am lucky to have found a place like Park to call home.  I am lucky to work with such a wonderful staff, a staff that is putting the students first.  I am thankful for all that you do.  I am glad that you, too, call Park home, and I am looking forward to a great year.

One of the things that I have enjoyed most about our profession is that we get to start over every year.  We get to set new goals, create new lessons, make up for past mistakes.  The days students return from summer break is one of my favorite days of the year.  I am glad we get to share that day together.  

Here’s to a great year,

Bert