Just a teacher...the beginning

A question I get asked often is, "What made you become a teacher?" First of all, it makes it sound like someone backed me up into a corner and said, "Amanda, you have two choices become a teacher or each your lima beans." I hate lima beans. To the depths of my soul... I hate lima beans. So, there you have it, no choice a teacher I became.

Okay, seriously. I became a teacher because I have a heart for kids. I have a heart for the hard ones, because they are the ones that life has handed a difficult card to. I have a heart for the quiet ones, because they need someone to help them find their voice. I have a heart for the snarky ones, because, seriously I am them, and they are me. I have a heart for the brilliant ones, because they need to be pushed and challenged and heard. I have a heart for the ones that just don't get it, because they need a cheerleader that will show them that YES YOU CAN. I have a heart for the one that cannot sit still, because I was that kid. I have a heart for kids, all of them. The teaching comes next. My first job and responsibility as an educator is to get to know my kids. Who they are, what makes them tick (literally and figuratively). Before I can "drop some knowledge" (thank you Hamilton!), I have to show each and every one of my students that I see them. Not the data that came with them or is yet to come. Not the previous teachers assessment of them (good or bad). Just the kid as an individual walking into my 5th grade class.

My original degree was in psychology. I received my BS in Psychology in 1999. There is a long story to the road that led me to that accomplishment, but that is another story for another day. I graduated ready to save the world. Thanks to an incredible opportunity to internship with a private nonprofit, I found myself gainfully employed when I graduated. I was a child advocate. My job was to advocate for criminally abused children. Now, I do want to clarify. I was a child advocate, little "c" little "a". I did not work for Child Advocates, which is an amazing organization that works with the court system to be the voice of the abused child in court proceedings. I was privileged to work along side them on cases though. One part of my job was to go into schools and give presentations to faculty and staff on the signs of child abuse. I remember visiting with teachers and listening to their stories.

It was as a result of those stories and quite a bit of prayer that had me getting my alternative teacher certification in 2009. I realized that I could have an impact on and advocate on a daily basis for more children if I was in the classroom with them. In 2010, I became a first year teacher at the school that I am still on staff with today.

That first year, I was just giddy. I remember my partner teacher at the time telling me, and I quote, "You are just too happy. You need to calm down." Ha! She was probably right. I was a bit of a spaz. But, come on, I was living the dream! That first group of 4th graders taught me so much. We learned all the things together. We learned to become better writers and that you knew you had reached your audience if they laughed when you laughed or cried when you cried. We learned that all books are not created equal, but sometimes you had to take a chance on a different genre or unknown author. That group of kids will always hold a special place in my heart. They set me on the path to help me become the teacher I am today.

Why did I become a teacher is not as important of a question as why do I continue to be an educator. Thirteen years under my belt, and I can honestly say that it is 100% about the kids. They need an advocate. They need someone who believes in them, even when they do not believe in themselves. They need someone to see past their rough exterior to the 10 or 11 year old kid who is just trying to figure life out. That's it. They own my heart. For the 9 months that their parents entrust them to me, I pour everything I have into them to make them better individuals, deeper thinkers, respectful questioners, and develop a love of reading.