The Value Of A Teacher

Summer break is over, and it is time to roll up your sleeves and get back to work. Many teachers have thought of the perfect setup for their classrooms, are aware of which students are scheduled to be in their classes, and are mentally prepared to put their skill of teaching to work. Teaching is indeed an art and teachers are truly unsung heroes. If I had to paint a description of what teaching is, I would paint a rod, an ear, eyes, unmolded clay, and a calculator. The rod would represent teachers leading students while providing them with valuable knowledge that can never be taken away. The ears represent teachers listening to the spoken and unspoken words of students. The eyes represent the fact that teachers must be cognizant of what is going on around them while still teaching lessons based on the requirements of the school and the state. The unmolded clay represents each student that is being molded by the teacher. The calculator represents the fact that teachers are often viewed as problem solvers. A famous quote that is often repeated is “A beggar and a billionaire both have 24 hours in a day.” What you do with that time is what makes the difference. You can spend time or invest time. Throughout the year, teachers invest their time in students, knowing that there will be a return. The return is the students applying the knowledge and skills they were taught by teachers. Teachers are tasked with protecting students from danger, teaching the student, and resolving issues presented by the student. Teachers must consider the student who is doing well and craves a pat on the back for their accomplishments; the student who cannot stay awake in class because they did not rest well at home; seeing the potential in the student who does not believe they are enough; the student who looks forward to lunch being their best meal of the day; the student with the silent scream who is dying to reveal a life-changing secret; wondering about the student who is truant; and the competitive student who clings to their every word in an attempt to earn the highest grades. With so many different students in mind, the teacher must keep a straight face while creatively presenting a lesson to a classroom of various personalities. Another talent that teachers have is the ability to pivot like a pro. Teachers prepare polished lesson plans and lay out perfect scenarios for students to learn. They make adjustments for students who need additional help, visual learners, auditory learners, and kinesthetic learners. However, they can never predict when an emergency or natural disaster may occur. A perfect example is the COVID-19 Pandemic that occurred in 2020. School districts scrambled to ensure they offered the best format to accommodate all students while ensuring the safety of everyone remained a top priority. Teachers are indeed artists in their own way and unsung heroes. Many say that teachers are the foundation of a society or even a nation. If you look at all jobs, trades, or careers, there is a similarity in their origin. Everyone had to be educated at some point in their lives. Even the teacher had to be taught. John Cotton Dana quoted “Who dares to teach must never cease to learn.” Educators are always learning in order to improve personally and professionally.

To all educators, keep doing the great work that you are doing. You are a valuable asset in this world. Your passion and pivot are not in vain. You have not only spent time but invested time into many lives. Because of your dedication to hundreds of students each year, your name alone will outlive you. It is true that we remember our best teachers and our worst teachers too. In the words of Mya Angelou, ”Your legacy is every life that you have touched. Your legacy is every person you have met whose influence is felt by you.” Start this school year off by remembering why you became an educator, choosing to invest your time wisely,

and being committed to leaving a great legacy. -Cynthia