Why I Became a T&I Teacher

I became a teacher for several different reasons. I worked at a job where the people were unprofessional, your opinion didn't count and there wasn't anymore promotional opportunities available to me at that time so I needed a change. Also, I enjoyed working with kids in some capacity. Before I moved to Georgia, I worked at the District Attorney's with a juvenile diversion program. When I moved here, before I went to work for the sheriff's department, my first job was a Direct Patient counselor at an adolescent psychiatric treatment facility. At my last job, before I was promoted, I was able to work as a case manger for SB440 kids(kids being tried as adults). So, as you can see, I have always worked in some capacity with kids. I think it was just natural to turn to teaching when it was time for me to move on. When I look back, I kind of think this was really my calling. After working with kids with all kinds of issues, I felt that maybe I could make a difference or a bigger impact on their lives in the school setting. There, they can actually see a young person in a positive setting, doing positive things (that positive person would be me).

With all of the negative things going on in our school system, the main reason I signed my contract was my students. I was really considering a move out of state. Most of the freshmen were my first students and at the end of last year, they wanted to make sure that I was coming back because they wanted me to see them through to graduation. I think that says a lot. Also, I want them to keep a positive attitude about the accreditation issue and to know that we do have some good schools, students and teachers and that they had nothing to do with this situation. I don't want to abandon them and every time I get upset with them or something that the school has done and I get those thoughts of leaving, something starts tugging at my heart and all the frustration goes away. I guess I just really love them.