My niece Jessica’s graduation from the University of Arizona last month was a special day. It brought back memories of her as a little girl growing up, and how she always wanted to be a music teacher. Now here she was graduating with her degree in music education, preparing to set out on the very career she’d dreamed of when she was a child herself. It was beautiful to see her accomplish that goal.
Jessica strongly believes that kids need a sound foundation in the arts, and you can be sure she doesn’t get any argument on that point from her aunt. Now she’s in a position to do something about it, as she’s been hired by the Chandler Unified School District to teach music.
I couldn’t be more proud of her, which got me thinking about all the new teachers out there in Arizona who are just now entering the profession. Like Jessica, they have a real sense of purpose in their hearts. They could have chosen other professions but they felt a passion to teach and touch kids’ lives for the better.
They’ve achieved Step One of their dream by getting the degree. But as we teachers well know, they are about to face the real challenge—the classroom. Unfortunately, they are not coming in to the happiest of circumstances. It’s a tough time for education in Arizona right now. Our already strained system is facing even more budget cuts. But Jessica and her fellow new teacher colleagues can’t help that. Their time is now.
I feel for Jessica and her new teacher colleagues. Teaching is tough enough without further distractions. But this is where the rest of us can help them, and they can help us. These newest members of the profession need our support and encouragement.
It’s good to be reminded of the passion and optimism that we felt when we first started. We had butterflies in our stomachs, but big plans in our minds. We dreamed not only for ourselves, but for our students. We saw big things for them, when they couldn’t see for themselves. And we still do today.
Maintaining that sense of purpose and excitement over time is what makes for a truly successful teaching practice in the long term. Jessica and her fellow new teachers are going to have their passion tested, there’s no doubt about that. The challenging kids, the difficult parents, the bureaucracy – they are going to face it all. We need to help them see beyond these obstacles to the opportunities that only teaching offers.
At the Arizona K-12 Center, we are as committed as ever to supporting new teachers as they enter into the profession. We understand that not only their dreams are at stake, but their students’ dreams as well.
