At large gatherings of movers and shakers, I receive repeated questions, and I am fine with my answers to the questions and comments towards my choices. “So what are you up to now?  “Thank you for what you do.” Plus the follow-up.”What are you running for next?” But last night it hit wrong as my answers and overt gestures were once again teacher, eye-roll, and NO. It hit as if I had settled. I didn’t. I fulfilled my campaign promise. I would go back into the classroom, win or lose, for kids. I should have mentioned I am teaching summer school, just to eek out a tad over 60k. Just a tad and attending another teacher certification for an additional 5k on my contract. People, that’s big bucks in my world. Insert pity, look, and  commentary of how we miss you politically. Blah, blah, blah. You would have been great. Yadda, yadda, yadda.

It is a sad state when the classroom teacher is pitied. It actually hurts as I love my daily life and the lives I touch, and while I could have gone to law school or stayed in broadcasting, or not veered from my path as a retail buyer. I wanted more. My desire to make a difference not with wins or story segments or even a new line of clothing that sells as soon as it hits the floor. My desire was to teach and have a family and a career that fit our lifestyle. 

So today, I am pitied by others as my profession has gone through more unnecessary changes and hoops that scare off the newly minted college graduate. I agree that my world will never be the same but as I roll with the punches, I still see the same light in the eyes of students from time to time, and that is why I put in the work, year in and year out. Don’t pity me or any teacher. Please applaud.