Hope for the future

When I was thirteen, I knew I wanted to be a teacher. I loved learning and my teachers. I loved watching lightbulbs come on, not only for me, but for my classmates and siblings.  I loved volunteering to work with students with special needs.  Education has always been my passion. 

I have been blessed to have been able to do work I love (I mean LOVE) and to be a participant on both sides of the educational system.  Throughout my educational career I have had the privilege to see firsthand the frontlines of education and to work with others who share this same passion. 

Teachers and school teams never cease to amaze me. I wish the public could deeply understand the magical things that happen regularly.  I have seen students who themselves had no hope of becoming contributing members of society become not only independent adults but thriving leaders. I have seen teachers stay after school, come before school, provide out of their own pockets, miss their own family events, and lose much sleep. Teaching is so much more than the lesson plan.  It has always been heart work, a vocation, but it has never been as hard of work as it is today. 

My hope for the future is an educational system where teachers feel supported and loved, where their expertise is valued, where those on the sidelines are cheering for them.  I hope that instead of a shortage, there is an abundance of teachers, because the school environment is a place they want to work, because they are respected, and because they are given the freedom to make a difference. I hope students can learn in schools that feel like a community- places where they learn not only to read, write and do math, but to be good people, critical thinkers, problem solvers and contributing leaders of an extraordinary society.

My hope for the future of my children and their children lies in a public system of education.

– Mary Hendricks – Harris