What does it feel like to be a teacher in Oklahoma? Well, as many headed back to their classrooms this week and many also continued the fight at the Capitol, I can imagine a teacher in Oklahoma feels discouraged by our legislators, but encouraged by community support, hopeless that nothing will ever change in our red-seemingly-anti-public-ed state, but hopeful in the next generation of voters and educators, ecstatic to see their students and get back to doing what they LOVE doing, but defeated that they couldn't return with a clear victory, and lastly, I can imagine they all feel VERY VERY tired. Tired of being questioned by anyone and everyone about their career choices, their teaching methods, their knowledge from years of higher education, professional development, and experience, their desire to earn a living wage, and most of all, the love they have for "their kids" that sit in their classroom each day. They don't want to be martyrs, they don't want to be heroes, but they just want to teach kids. It's a calling that they feel greatly, and they shouldn't have to apologize or justify that. It is exhausting work for sure, but when they help a student through a challenging math problem, complete an English paper, fill out a job/college application, or reach any other little goal in life, that is what makes it worthwhile.
For a very long time, I knew I wanted to be a teacher, and I wanted to teach special education. It was a calling for me too...something I knew I had to do. Like I explained, it was the hardest work I have ever done, but oh so worth it, and one of the biggest things I took with me when I left the classroom is what an honor it was to work with such incredible people inside and outside the classroom. Many of the very best people in my life have been and are teachers. They are kind, giving, encouraging, hard-working, dedicated, loving, faithful, and brave. Teachers continue to walk into their classrooms each day ready to love on and help these little (and big teenage) people learn, despite their fears of not being a good enough teacher, not reaching every kid when they need, not seeing the issues their students face each day, not being able to protect their classroom from an intruder or another horrible tragedy, and not being valued by the families of their students, their district, their communities, their state, and their country. My appreciation for the work they do everyday has grown exponentially this year, as together her teachers and I have worked through some frightening and uncertain circumstances that neither of us could control. I am so grateful for teachers, not only because I have been there, but because of the difference they have made in my whole life...from elementary to high school, and from my professional life to being the mother of a preschooler.
In some ways, it seems hard or overwhelming to know just how to support teachers, but there are so many ways. The most obvious and simple way is to send a note of gratitude to a teacher in your life. Words of encouragement helped me get through on the hardest of days. Though not necessary, receiving gifts as a teacher was just the best! Supplies for their classrooms are always needed, and I don't know one teacher that would turn down a Starbucks coffee or a gift card to their favorite place to eat. If you aren't sure exactly what teachers need for their classrooms, there is a Facebook group called "Oklahoma Education Needs/Donations". But MOST OF ALL...they need your support by staying civicly informed and engaged. The walkout may be over, but their and our work is not done. There are a few groups you can join to stay informed on Facebook too, that share up-to-date information. "Oklahoma Teacher Walkout - The Time is Now" was created by a teacher and is updated regularly on what is happening legislatively and specific people to contact and what to say. "Oklahoma Central PLAC" gives factual and non-biased information about funding for public education in Oklahoma. These two groups can help you know what to talk to your legislators about, and even if you don't feel 100% confident in meeting them face-to-face, calling and emailing is important too. These contacts are noted and tallied, and they will be part of our states history, and hopefully change some legislators minds or at least provide substantial proof that they did not listen to their constituents. These two groups can and will help connect us to candidates (over 400 registered!!!) that support public education and we NEED to support them. Donate to their campaigns, knock on doors for them, and tell your neighbors/family/friends. Lastly, make sure you are registered to vote and get ready to vote FIRST in the June 26th primaries. And of course, remember in November to VOTE!!! I don't really have any magical ways to help support public education, but we have to try. I saying this more to myself than anyone...instead of being overwhelmed or feeling uniformed, just do something. We've spent too much time not paying attention over the past 10 years, and we now can see what the legislature has done to our schools. The time is now to help our teachers and our students.
Each month, I have checked through the days, somedays feeling accomplished and somedays not...but each day I knew what I had to do, and what I had to do to finish the "job". That's what makes this month feel so heavy. With each post shared, each message sent, each email written, and each phone call made, I hope that I am doing enough to make others understand and hopefully listen. I hope you can join me in some small way to help our students and teachers. We can't afford to lose more valuable teachers to other states, but we will continue to do so and emergency certify those without highly qualifying them to teach our kids. We will all suffer the consequences if we can't start a change.
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