My Mother’s Wildest Dream

Taniece Thompson-Smith Abilene ISD

The Grip That I Grapple With

I always chuckle when colleagues ask me about my mom or tell me how much they love her or how cute she was that day. Some still share how much they cried with us. At the time, I don’t think she had any clue about the lasting impact that she would have on others. Now you must be wondering why they would remember my mom. Well, if you saw what they saw that day, you would remember her too. She was the funny, exhilarating, and enthusiastic mom in her seventies, who literally ran across the stage to surprise me when my region deemed me worthy to represent them as the 2023 Region 14 Teacher of the Year. When they surprised me on stage that day, I had no idea that my mom, husband and two girls were hiding backstage. When they got the que to walk towards me, she bolted faster than Usain Bolt would sprint 100 meters. Her grip on me in that moment somehow diffused the strong sense of victory that you can only appreciate after hardships only few people could even understand. I knew exactly how she felt, and why this moment was so monumental. That grip reminded me that the next generation had risen from the circumstances of a one room apartment with seven siblings and parents, sharing a toilet and kitchen in a tenement yard with neighbors. Her grip reminded me that she had to abandon education to provide for her family, but it was not in vain. All the hopes and dreams she had for her children were coming to fruition. Her grip reminded me that she could actually touch those dreams. Tears streamed down our faces in full view of an audience of thousands of people from our school district who were present for our convocation. They didn’t know our story, but they could feel it. Everyone had a front row seat to the raw emotions that surfaced, as the screens all around the room zoomed in on the vulnerable moment that will live in sacred infamy in my heart. They knew it was bigger than that hug we exchanged. Some powerful forces had collided on stage. I still grapple with this grip daily. How do I continue to elevate our family’s trajectory in my own children, and be the best that I can so my students can transcend theirs?

The Budding Of A Dream

How did a girl like me get here? Growing up on an island in a third world country, I was so sure that even the chance to get on a plane would remain a figment of my imagination. Yet, somehow, so many people’s faith in me, coupled with my own intrinsic motivation has propelled me on a journey that I can now mark as one of the most extraordinary times in my life.

I know, you must be wondering,

“How in the world…?”. Well let me tell you this crazy story that I sometimes still have to pinch myself as I grapple with the reality that I am now living.

As a little girl, I was the annoying one in the neighborhood who always wanted to be the teacher during our play dates, as it is now sophisticatedly called. In those moments, if I ever found myself alone, I would break off the branches of trees, strip the leaves to create the arms and legs, line them up against the tree trunk and teach. I suppose there were many professions around me that I could have emulated, but there was only one that stood out in an exceptional way. My aunt was a first-grade teacher for so many years. Every summer she would visit us. She was the only one that gave us books and broadened our perspectives of the world through the vicarious experiences in those stories. She loved what she did. It exuded in the way she spoke about her students. They were worth every ounce of energy she could muster up to teach. She believed in what they could be, and she worked diligently so students understood that their dreams could one day come to fruition. That’s the role model that I had. I wanted to be just like her. I wanted to have that impact on others. With my aunt as my role model, my passion was now grounded in purpose.

Passion To Purpose

One of my most vivid memories as a new teacher was sitting on my living room floor cutting out over 180 bananas that I had drawn and laminated, to track the school days for my new kindergarten class. Despite now living in a first world country, it never dawned on me that I could have just gone to the dollar store or any other teacher store and just buy cute counters. As I reflected on that memory, what resonates is the level of tenacity that was, and still is ingrained in me. That summer, my fingers hurt, but I kept cutting. I got frustrated, but I kept cutting. My singular focus was to be the best teacher that I could be for my first class ever. All I knew for sure was that I just wanted to give my very best to those students, and in that moment, it meant drawing, laminating and cutting the best bananas that I could for my classroom. I was so passionate about teaching that everything I did was done with purpose. I understood my why and I executed accordingly. I knew exactly where I wanted to be. I understood the sacrifices made by my family so I could have this opportunity. I was intentional in working hard. I want to be known as the person who valued education and spent her life elevating the profession and facilitating transformative experiences for students. I am intent on persevering against all odds.

Against All Odds

Sometimes in life we make promises with the best intentions, not truly understanding if we will be able to stand by those promises when unexpected situations arise. To be brutally honest, despite promising myself as a little girl that I would be the best teacher ever, when I migrated to the United States and the Columbine shooting occurred, like a gazelle escaping its predator, I abandoned my dreams of teaching and earned a bachelor’s degree in computer science instead. After so many years of dreaming and planning, there was a cultural dissonance between what I was raised with, and the new reality that was hitting me like a ton of bricks. Against all odds though, I returned to school for my teaching certification, because when you are passionate about something, it’s hard to walk away.

I remember finally being in the classroom during those first two years and living my best life as an educator and witnessing the growth of students on a remarkable level. Then, like a sweep of black clouds over a sunny day, my husband informed me that we had military orders to relocate. I remember sobbing as we drove from the east coast to the west coast for our first move. My life was over. My career was over. My passion for teaching was just a fleeting moment that I would never regain, and you could not tell me otherwise. Despite the churning in my stomach, I went because of how wonderful my husband has consistently been to our family, and our amazing country that I now had a privilege of calling home. Little did I know that this would be the first of many moves. Little did I know that my influence as a teacher would span states and continents. Little did I know that wherever the Air Force called our family to serve over the next 23 years, would also be a place where I could serve children and build their capacity for intellect, and visceral changes in their educational mindsets.

Against all odds I went back to school everywhere we lived, just so I could get recertified to follow my passion. Against all odds, my family survived the stringent finances during the year it would take me to recertify, just to get back in the classroom. Against all odds, I found a way to maintain a career with each move, when others said the stress of starting over was too much. Against all odds, I sacrificed years of my retirement during those gap years when I couldn’t teach because of the recertification timeline. I valued the sanctity of our marriage, family, and our service to our amazing country, so we patiently endured, against all odds. Against all odds, I turned away from negative influences when I remembered my childhood friend on her dying bed telling me, “Don’t make the same mistakes that I did.” Against all odds, I stuck with teaching because it’s not what I do, it’s who I am. Sometimes the odds have been stacked so high against me, but it is in those moments that I think of Jennifer Gonzalez’ analogy of the marigold. So many people have been my marigold, surrounding me and pouring life into me, even in those somber moments when I felt defeated. Their presence and influence have enabled me to grow, against all odds. I strive to be that marigold for students. I strive to be that marigold for my colleagues. I strive to be that marigold for my district. I strive to be that marigold for these United States of America. The bigger question that really scares me though is, “If not us then who, if not now then when?” If we don’t strive for excellence on our students’ behalf, who will?

“IF NOT US THEN WHO? IF NOT US, THEN WHEN?

Eric Thomas in his motivational speeches often asks, “How bad do you want it?” If you want it as much as the air you want to breathe, then you will stop at nothing. If you want it as bad as the air you breathe, you will do, not just your best, but your very best. Research shows that our brains are capable of so much more than we give it credit for. I want students to build that capacity, strengthen their intellect, and use those untapped folds in their brains as they expand their IQ. Naveen Cunha, our 2024 Texas Secondary Teacher of the Year, consistently says, “It’s a We thing.”

Education is plagued by so many issues right now. We don’t have to look very far to see or read about the negative. Despite all of that, I want to encourage my fellow educators, especially our new teachers by reminding them in the words of Naveen Cunha, “It’s a we thing”. When we stand in solidarity in our high expectations, prioritizing our mental health, advocating for our students and colleagues, and in building capacity in our students, the natural corollary of that is we will normalize excellence. Students who see the relevance of education will value it. When we value education, we make educated decisions. Educated decisions transform communities and the effect is cyclical. Teachers who bring more than just content to the classroom will change lives. Our students need us to see them for not just who they are, but who they will become. Our students need us to be movers and shakers. Our students need us to challenge the status quo. My fellow educators, “It’s a we thing”. “If not us, then who? If not now, then when?” There’s a student out there that only you can reach. That student deserves to have your love, your patience, your belief in their “somebodiness” as Dr.

King refers to that sense of deep self-worth. These are big mountains to move, but it all starts with faith in your passion and your students. You only need faith as small as a mustard seed.

Fruits Of The Mustard Seed

If I’m totally honest, my faith in myself has wavered over the years. When our family was reassigned to Dyess Air Force Base in Abilene, Texas I spent two weeks crying in the temporary living facility (TLF) on base. Who would hire me? I lamented. By this time, I had been living overseas for almost five years. I felt so out of touch with the American school system, and what I could actually bring to the students, who needed the best teachers. I sent out tons of applications. Like a fisherman waiting in vain, with bait in a marine desert, no one responded…that is, until the Abilene Independent School District called. The Human Resources department and I had the most intimate interview. I remember tearing up when I shared my hopes and dreams as an educator. We had an authentic conversation about education. They saw my heart, sent me immediately after to Stafford Elementary where I met with the principal and vice principal. That day, I made them a promise that I would do my absolute best. It wouldn’t always be perfect. I would make mistakes, but I would always be willing to learn and grow.

Now almost four years later, I still walk in that building, look at my badge, look at the caliber of people that I get to work with, and the school culture we have built, against all odds and pinch myself. MY COLLEAGUES loved and respected my work so much, despite my plethora of shortcomings, that they selected me to be their ambassador and carry the torch as their 2022-2023 Stafford Elementary Teacher of the year. This opportunity has catapulted me to the strategic level of education, and opened doors to the White House, Capitol Hill, The State Board of Education, meetings with legislators from as many as 16 states, and so much more. Never in my wildest dreams did I ever think that I would be privy to this noble platform of service.

After years of serving the country with my husband, he saw my passion I had for my new school family in Texas, and asked one day, “Is this the place?”. I knew exactly what he meant. For the first time in our marriage, I got to decide where we live. After 23 years of service, he retired so I could stay in Abilene, Texas. We bought a house. My girls are now enrolled in high school, the only school in their academic career that they will attend from start to finish! They now have friends they will get to live in the same neighborhood with for a long time. We are happy. Our family is HOME! Our service to the country continues, but in a different way. We will always be the Air Force family.

So once again, how did a girl like me get here? Growing up on an island in a third world country, I was so sure that even the chance to get on a plane would remain a figment of my imagination. Yet, somehow, so many people’s faith in me, coupled with my own intrinsic motivation has propelled me on a journey that I can now mark as one of the most remarkable times in my life. I am my mother’s wildest dream.

These conflated events have brought to fruition this 2024 Teacher of the Year lifetime title, that I always refer to, with a sense of reverence because of how teachers have worked tirelessly in this profession, some whose names we will never know. That alone should propel us to be excellent. As educators, we stand on the shoulders of excellence. With this lifetime title, I want to live a life that honors that work. Let’s live like it. Let’s teach like it. Let’s prioritize our students like we believe it. My mustard seed heart from my humble beginning has come to fruition in a way that my brain could not have fathomed. My dreams continue. There’s so much more to be done. Don’t stop dreaming! “If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can move mountains!” Let your seeds germinate, grow into hearty trees and be a shelter for others around you. Join me on the journey. Together we truly can do anything.

We are legacy bearers.

See full article on Teacher of the Year: https://www.abileneisd.org/article/1525998