Raise or Raze?

I loved this question and so I posted it on my Facebook page hoping that my “friends” would have some great responses. Most people who wanted to share with me posted about that one teacher who went beyond the expected teacher role. They loved that one teacher who was encouraging, was real, and provided encouragement and support when it was needed. The teachers that make a difference add so many different hats to their repertoire and they are making a difference. There are many students who need extra support: maybe they have family situations where they aren’t getting the love and support they need; maybe they aren’t getting help with their homework; maybe students don’t have a solid friend base to help them fit in at school; maybe the student is struggling in their classes and need someone to reach out to them. There are so many students who need more. I think that teachers are so full of compassion and the desire to teach, that they notice these types of students. For such teachers, they don’t feel overwhelmed, or that it isn’t their job to care; instead, they do whatever it takes to reach a student in whatever capacity that student needs.

This would be the best way to talk about this with administrators or potential hiring committees: I am the type of teacher who goes above and beyond, stays late, opens my doors early, willing to tutor, give extra help; willing to get involved in extracurricular activities to help students spark an interest in something fun and unusual. Be it advocate, mentor, coach, confidant…teachers are there completely.