I know now that God has placed me in children's lives for a reason. That’s why I am still here in this profession. God knows that I am strong enough to be here. Believe me, it takes a certain person to be in education. I tried to leave education once before; I packed up all my belongings and said goodbye to the classroom forever. I used to take all the hate from parents to my heart. I was completely done with trying my hardest for kids. Many people often made me question my own abilities and my own heart. Because of that, I was done doing what I thought was right. One whole year went by- it was a year of soul searching and honestly, the best time for me. I was able to clear my mind, and I was able to rebuild the confidence that I once had before I let others break me down.

After a lot of prayer and guidance, I decided to come back to the classroom. Since then, I have not questioned that I was doing what was BEST for children. An administrator that I have always admired once told me that she appreciated that I always advocated for MY students. I am not only an advocate for MY own children, but, EVERYONE’S children.

I take great pride in that.

Since I returned to the classroom, I have always spoken up FOR children. I have spoken up FOR children, even when it may be against the grain. I have become comfortable not always being liked, or being viewed as a nuisance, simply because I am standing up for what is RIGHT. My current administrator told me that she has quickly learned that I am extremely passionate for children and she never takes me challenging what is presented as a disrespect. I am thankful that she understands my heart and why I put up such a fight for MY kids. I am always FAIR to children, teach my children and my students to be FAIR, and expect for them to be treated FAIRLY. Our students have NOT been treated FAIRLY. And for the past 10 years, teachers have CRIED, LEFT, and downright TAKEN this ABUSE.

Guess what, “WE’RE NOT going to TAKE IT, ANYMORE!!”

Teachers honestly feel segregated to a point. I don’t want to take this word out of context, but as we fight for CHILDREN, we are feeling “the action or state of setting someone or something apart from other people or things or being set apart.” Some members of our community are trying to make us feel like we are wrong for taking this stand, and therefore need to be set apart from those who are doing the “right” thing for children. As you see the beautiful images of the brightly-flowing red at our schools, and marching at the state capitol, we are okay with again going against the grain for our students. It took the heroic African American Civil Rights Group 20 days to get what was RIGHT and owed to them. As they protested with the Montgomery Bus Boycott, they were hurt, jailed, pained physically and mentally, and they kept going for what they wanted. As I teach my 1st and 2nd graders about the inspiring points of American History, I always start with telling them that two of my most favorite American Heroes are Martin Luther King Jr., and Rosa Parks. Why? Because they fought against the grain for what was right and they made change! Teachers are now here doing the same thing. We want change, and will NOT stop until we get change!

(Unsure who to give credit to for this amazing image!)