Dear White People: It's time to confront your inner Karen (or Ken)

May 30, 2020

It has been almost 3 years since I blogged. I have moved from a teaching position, to a principal residency, and now serve as an Assistant principal on the Northwest side of Chicago. During these past 3 years I have lost my mom (RIP Mommy) and gotten married to a wonderful man. But that's not why I logged on today. 

I am writing because I feel paralyzed. Over the last couple months, it has come to my white, privileged attention that it's open season for racists... (no thanks to "45")...and when empowered with a badge and the supposed trust of a community, a racist police officer is the worst kind of terrorist there is. Watching the life slip away from George Floyd while Derek Chauvin (yes I say his name too because he should never have peace again!) knelt on his neck like a prized, hunted animal, made me cry. All I could think of was, that could be my husband, my stepson, my nephew. No, this isn't the first time I am feeling this way, Trayvon Martin, Ahmud Arbery,  Eric Garner, Michael Brown... they all have made me sick to my stomach and fear for my family a little more. But watching George Floyd hit me different. Like, Emmett Till's murderers not being convicted or brought to justice different. And in my disgust and sadness and rage, I feel helpless. So as I stand with my friends and colleagues of color, I listen and I attempt to be more than not racist, but, an Anti-Racist. 

I write today, not for my black friends, but for my white friends and acquaintances. What I have seen on social media over the last month or so has made me realize a couple things - 1. I need to trim my "friends" back and 2. It is so easy for people with privilege to sit behind their computer and scream about "All lives mattering" and "looting will bring shooting".  Growing up privileged, in a community with maybe 2 families of color in elementary school and a sprinkle more in high school, I am here to tell you PRIVILEGED does NOT mean you grew up with some sort of financial advantage or your life hasn't been hard, it means YOUR SKIN TONE ISN'T ONE OF THE THINGS MAKING IT HARDER.  There are other types of privilege - socio-economic, cisgender, male, but this is about your WHITE PRIVILEGE. And guess what? You can deny you are privileged all you want, but YOUR WHITENESS TELLS ON YOU SO YOU CANNOT HIDE. 

Now that we got that out of the way, you may ask or say, "what can I do? I didn't ask to be born white?"  Ah, no, you didn't. But it is important you recognize white privilege exists as a result of historic and enduring racism, which designed practices to oppress people of color.  "I'm not racist" you say. "I have black friends". Mmmm, ok. so again, it's not about you, but the system that has been put in place that you are unfortunately a part of by birthright. What does this mean for you?  Well, it means that as a white person, you actively benefit from the oppression of people of color - this is shown in many forms: 

• your actions are not perceived as those of your entire race; 
• products and learning materials are designed for you - White is the Universal discourse; 
• your citizenship isn't publicly questioned; 
• most people at work look like you; 
• you don't get harassed for being in public places PERIOD!

And then, there is systemic racism, that yes, you benefit from: 

• Black graduates are 2x more likely to be unemployed
• Black americans are 30% more likely to get pulled over by police
• The wealth gap.
• Black students are 3x more likely to be suspended
• Black americans make up 40% of the prison population,
• Black americans are shown 18% fewer homes

I have been disgusted by the comments I see from white friends that DO NOT have the right to have a contra-opinion! Sharing your opinion about looting and what you believe "respectable" protesting should look like was not asked for!  You sure didn't have anything to say when a WHITE man squeezed the life out of a man in broad daylight! Or, when a black man was shot for jogging! So stop for a second and back your whole racist self up. If you didn't know the information above. That's ok. But take this as a learning experience, please. And for my White friends who feel as helpless and paralyzed as me, besides letting our friends of color know we stand with them you can:

• Promise to listen to and amplify the voices of people of color;
• Teach other white people the barriers of success for people of color;
• Be Anti-racist - not just, "not racist";
• Confront racial injustice, even when it's uncomfortable.

Robin Diangelo says it best, "White Fragility is an idea whose time has come. It is an idea that registers the hurt feelings, shattered egos, fraught spirits, vexed bodies, and taxed emotions of white folk" Furthermore, if you aren't the "book-reading" type, Beyonce makes it plain as day - "It's been said that racism is so American that when people protest racism, some assume we're protesting America".  Remember when you got mad when Colin Kaepernick took a knee? A peaceful, not bothering anyone knee? Yeah, that's why we are here. 

Look, we ALL have implicit bias.  If I don't know the barriers you face, or the struggles you see on a daily basis, I can make misguided assumptions based on societal stereotypes. If you are lucky, you have a colleague or friend of color who you trust enough to check you when you show out.

If you are looking for some resources that can help you understand how to promote an anti-racist agenda, here you go: (thank you Janet Lorch) 

Here is a link: bit.ly/ANTIRACISMRESOURCES

*This document is intended to serve as a resource to white people and parents to deepen our anti-racism work. If you haven’t engaged in anti-racism work in the past, start now. Feel free to circulate this document on social media and with your friends, family, and colleagues.

Look, you have a choice, you can spew your hate speech and sit in your house behind your computer judging what you don't understand, or you can educate yourself, listen, and be an ally. At least you have a choice. George Floyd didn't. #SAYHISNAME 

Is it worth it?

Sigh.  This is a difficult post to write.  I am frustrated.  Upset.  Tired of the media making Chicago public school teachers out to be the bad guys.  All of us lazy, fighting over money, over-paid babysitters.  I am also tired of the rhetoric.  Karen Lewis you are exhausting.  I know and understand the history of unions, remember, I am a teacher.  However, I do not believe a work stoppage which affects the lives of 300,000 plus children is justified.  I just don't.  That being said, I support my colleagues 100% on their decision to walk the line.  I see amazing people who work harder than anyone I know in any other industry fight for students who sometimes don't have anyone else to fight for them every day.  They show up sick.  Miss weddings and funerals.  Cut time with their own children short for the good of our 16th and central park babies. 

You see, I work with an extraordinary group of teachers.  Most of us started together, in a residency class in 2013.  We were then all chosen to come together at Dvorak School Of Excellence to serve a previously under served group of amazing children.  We have gone from a near level 3 to almost a 1plus.  In 2 years.  And we did it without cheating or messing with data.  It was through pure blood, sweat and tears...and tears.  On any given day, there are more than 3 teacher cars in the lot before 6:30am, this is not including our director of climate and culture who is usually one of first to get there as well.  On teacher preps and lunches you almost always see children with their teachers.  What does that mean?  There is usually little to no break BY CHOICE.  After school there are children in classrooms, on every level - either receiving after school help, or "working" in a teacher classroom who sponsors them for their DC trip, or just waiting with their teacher as their parent has 2 jobs and calls and asks, "Ms. Ohannes can you please keep _______ until 5:30, you see, I just got this new job and...."  Yes.  Of course I will.  Of course most of my other colleagues will.   That is who we are.  We stay ready.  We come in on Saturdays to help each other out, and put felt on the bottom of a teachers entire classroom because with 38 students in a class now, that will be a lot of extra noise with the chairs.  We purchase first aid kits because we have a nurse ONE day a week and use Popsicle sticks when we have to make a makeshift splint because there is no nurse and mom can't get there until 2:30.   We make difficult calls to DCFS and often make sure students get home safely when we know there is no parent to do so.  We teach ALL the students in front of us, even when their IEP requires them to be in a separate learning environment, but CPS has deemed Diverse learners unimportant and so students with severe social and emotional needs stay in the class with the rest of the students, often holding the hand of the teacher while she teaches others to make sure he does not wander.  We write grants for EVERYTHING in hopes that the little money our principal does have can be used for a much needed teaching assistant or computer cart so students can attempt to compete in the 21st century and, in 7th and 8th grade, learn coding by an extraordinary Science teacher who could be in med school anywhere in the country and chooses to serve our children.  We collaborate, between grade levels and help new teachers with basic issues when our admin has to play the role of case manager with little help from the district.   We get paid for 6.25 hours a day, but I don't know a teacher in my school who doesn't work at least 9 hours and many 12-14 hour days.  Oh, and that doesn't include the weekend we spend grading, preparing lesson plans for whole group, small group, differentiating, modifying, collaborating, and buying items for our class.  Yes, we GIVE money to our work place in addition.  

And I don't know anyone I work with who resents it.  You see it is a calling.  But even people who give their lives to service can only take so much abuse.

I am tired.  Tired of a Mayor who doesn't get it and a Union head who just makes people hate us.  

Tired of a city who doesn't see the free and public education that is our students birthright is being taken away, piece by piece.  

Tired of parents who fight us when we call to ask where your student is because it's 9am and school starts at 8:30 and you tell us to chill.  They'll be there.  Got up late.  Again.  

If you are going to have a wheel and break each one of the spokes, one by one, the wheel will eventually deflate.  

I hear all the time, "Carrie, there are other districts that aren't so stressful and need passionate teachers too"  

But if all the teachers like me and my colleagues leave for the burbs, what will become of the children of Chicago?  

Well, you can already see.  It's falling apart.  Teachers are leaving and have been leaving.  When teachers stress an evaluation system more than they stress getting a student to understand theme it is no surprise.  

But in one little corner of the city, in one of the most violent neighborhoods on the west side, I can still make a difference and fight like hell for the 400+ students that grace the doors of Dvorak.  So yes, it is worth it.

The Miseducation of Miss Carrie: Get that money...Get that Data....

The Miseducation of Miss Carrie: Get that money...Get that Data....: Sorry it's been so long...6 months came and went fast!  But man, it didn't feel like it when we were in it!  Let me just start out...

Get that money...Get that Data....

Sorry it's been so long...6 months came and went fast!  But man, it didn't feel like it when we were in it!  Let me just start out by saying MY BABIES KILLED IT!  6th grade blew their personal and school-wide goals for both READING AND MATH out of the water!  (props to my sister from another mister Mrs. Brunson!!!)  As the Goal poster below shows for 6th grade...we blew it up!  All but 3 students grew....and It doesn't stop there!  Dvorak in general, represented!  Almost every grade blew their targets up.  So much so that as a school we are positioned to possibly become a level 1 school!  Yes, level 1 like Whitney Young and Skinner level 1!  We definitely have areas of growth to focus on, but I am so proud of my school and my babies!!                           

Needed 340..Got 422!  Blew it up!

So, as of today, a school funding bill was passed downstate.  Yay.  A one year reprieve.  What does this mean for CPS and our babies?  The schools will open on time, assuming Karen Lewis doesn't pull some stupid crap, and teachers will get paid the same they have for the last 3 years.  I get it, you might be thinking, "that's what Karen Lewis and the Union are fighting for" but the problem is they are fighting the wrong people.  Yes, I believe money is still being mismanaged at the central office, and Cronyism is still rearing its ugly head.  Yes, we are still hiring unqualified individuals for powerful positions (see the new chief of ODLSS who has limited experience with diverse learning.  Ironically, the deputy looks to have significant experience and is from OUTSIDE the district...imagine that!?!)  Yes, the buildings are still filthy as hell and we are giving more money to Aramark and SodexoMagic.  HOWEVER- if we don't look at the way we fund schools in general soon, we are going to implode, regardless.  Schools cannot continue to be funded by taxes that are not there due to unemployment levels still at record high in our highest poverty areas.  I don't know the answer....I don't have long hours downstate to think about and oh yeah, get paid to figure it out, but I know this isn't working.

Also,  the elephant in the room...parents/guardians.  Even as I sit on my balcony now, at 10pm at night, I can hear gun shots ring out like familiar summer music to many Chicagoans.  Once a melody known to only south and west side residents but now familiar to many more.   Parents...WHERE ARE YOUR KIDS?  I am sorry, but I am tired of the " I just don't know what to do with her/him" argument.  Stop it.  Stop it right now.  You were grown enough to do the no pants dance, so you are now deemed grown enough to raise children according to the law of the land.  Stop sending your kids to school to be raised.  Work WITH your teachers, not against them.  Yes, your BABY stabbed johnny with a pencil unprovoked!  Let's discuss a solution....  NO..your darling daughter cannot add 7 and 12 and she is in 7th grade.  We have resources we can work to get or fight for together!!  Also,  I don't get a budget from the school for feminine products, soap, deodorant, band-aids, kleenex, YES KLEENEX!!!!, pencils, paper, belts, shoe laces, or random snacks.  Get your baby to school on time, with proper sleep and they will get 2 (Sometimes 3) meals, and the education they need and deserve.   I don't mind providing those items for students who might struggle to be able to provide them to the classroom, but I have too many students with new J's every other week for you to tell me I have to provide it all.  When I stopped buying kleenex and snacks the last two weeks my students were besides themselves.  I told them, "ask mom for $1 to buy a box of tissue for the class"  I got 1 box.  Also, parents, when we call you, we are calling to be a problem solver, not a shit starter.  I am blessed to have great relationships with most of my parents, but man, the few that are the hold outs...I fear for their children's lives once they leave the safe confines of elementary school.  I promise, your son is not going to be able to pull that behavior on the street, let alone high school.  Listen to me, to us, your students' teachers, please!  We are with your precious child 7-9 hours a day.  We are on team "your kid"! 

All that to say, all in all, it was a great year. I learned a lot this year, personally and professionally.  I am so excited for next year, but will enjoy my respite from the daily 5am-11pm grind that is teaching.

If you are so inclined, please visit my fundraising site below for my classroom.  You can see a picture of my precious babies from this past year! While I joke, the struggle is real and the need is large.  Any amount helps! 

Thanks for reading and have a great summer!

Ms.OhannesDonorsChoose

Helloooo from the teacher's side.......

Hello...It's been a while!  This whole teaching thing is quite consuming and as my intentions were to post monthly, my weekend came and went, and came and went.  Year 2 is going well.  My grade level partner in crime and I inherited some babies who had quite a reputation.  They haven't had a ton of stability the last two years in terms of teachers and so needless to say, they have some abandonment issues.  But they are coming along wonderfully, engaging in teaching and learning with less and less issues as the year progresses.  The school in general is doing well, and we are a fully functional year 2 turn around school!  I am very proud to be part of such an AMAZING team!

So, with all the niceties complete, you know what's on my mind and I am sure you are thinking about it too...the strike.  I don't give a lot of time or thought to this issue most days as I am busy engaged in teaching and learning, social working. counseling, nursing, parenting, disciplining and praising my babies.   BUT, I have been forced to engage as I am a teacher and this does affect me.  So here is MY and ONLY MY OPINION.  I know I have brothers and sisters who have different opinions and I respect their right to free thought and speech...so please respect mine.

I have 3 issues: 1. the CTU and it's use of funds.  2. The state aka the "real" enemy  3. THE KIDS!

1. THE CTU:  I have done my due diligence and spoken with people in various roles with differing levels of access to information.  Honestly, that's the saddest part too....that other people have better "access" to information about negotiations about my job than me.  Furthermore, why is it so difficult to find information on what the CTU does with my $1100 a year?  $1100 that could go into my classroom, or my savings account, or my gas tank??  And then, if you multiply that amount by all the teachers, esp's and others paying dues (at varying rates of course) CTU takes in over $10million dollars a year!  I know both Karen Lewis and Jessie Sharkey take a salary of over over $200k a year so that's great for them.  Oh, and I also know they will continue to draw salaries while we struggle to pay bills and for some, feed their families while on strike.  What ever happened to the head of the cause joining in the hunger strike with the others?   The CTU also sends members to conferences, aka CTE (Career and Technical education conferences) to do nothing more than rebel rouse and disrupt presentations made by Chicago central office presenters.  I do not advocate that kind of ignorant behavior.  Yet, once again, no one asked what I think of how CTU spends their money.   Because they use scare tactics to get teachers to pay dues and then go on their way.  I know during the last strike, I had friends that, because of family issues and lack of childcare, they couldn't make it to the picket line.  As a result, they received threatening emails and texts.  Yep.  That's what collective bargaining is supposed to be about.  NOT.  Through my research I discovered that much of what CTU was sharing - 7% immediate cut in salary, huge rise in health care, cuts in teachers in all schools, was not the true table discussion.  As a matter of fact, we have some of the best Healthcare around.  Most public companies are going the way of Obamacare and making employees purchase in the open market.  Cost going up a couple dollars is expected.   Recently, Claypool publicly shared the newest offer and CTU got angry.  Why?  Why can't we as teachers and independent thinkers hear what he has to say?  I understand it would be a sacrifice on the teacher's part in the short term, but listen up CTU - THERE IS NO MONEY!  I have many friends and acquaintances in the central office...or rather I did.  They are cutting central office down to bare bones, as they should.  But it's not this administration that has gotten us to this ugly position.  In fact, CTU was at the table for the last approval of a "pension holiday" for CPS,  so stop acting like this happen over night!  Compromises will have to be made based on bad decisions made by previous administrations and you CTU.  So own it and let us move on!  No one WANTS a strike but you....

2.  The State of Illinois: Look, the state of Illinois owes us money.  As a Chicagoan, I pay taxes and cover the pension of every teacher in Illinois AND Chicago.  IF you live outside Chicago, you ONLY pay to cover the Illinois teachers pension which doesn't include Chicago.  So exactly WHY is that?  Also, it is my understanding that Governor Rauner is prepared to launch a smear campaign against you guessed it... teachers if the strike takes place.  If you aren't aware, Mr. Rauner was born and raised in Deerfield, IL a wealthy SUBURB of Illinois.  He went to Dartmouth and Harvard for his bachelors and masters education and prior to becoming governor, he was a millionaire venture capitalist living in Winnetka, another wealthy SUBURB of Chicago.  He represents the wealthy.  He has no context of what our schools in Chicago look, act or feel like.  He has never been in one to my knowledge, except for the 5 minute photo op most likely.  But he is prepared to tell us, the teachers, that we are greedy, and ungrateful and don't care about kids.  I can tell you right now if he walked into my 6th grade class with no context as say, a supposed sub, they would eat him alive.   This is the same Governor that wants to freeze property taxes that could unequivocally help with the budget crisis.  But we the Teachers are the problem.  Yep, that $56k salary that after pension and union dues still has to have at least $200 a month taken out for classroom needs is what's breaking the state budget. Clearly.  

3. The kids:  Our babies CANNOT afford a month, let alone a week out of school!  I have a classroom full of amazing 11-14 year old 6th graders 76% of whom are below to severely below grade level.  Prior to the turnaround, the school, the system, adults in their life failed them.  When a child tells you, "we are just waiting for when you gonna leave us" you know it's real.  I have just convinced them I AM NOT leaving!  Now, in the wake of this success, I may have to face them and explain why everyone in their life will tell them I don't want to be there because I want more money?  (that will be the uneducated explanation shared by the media)  Hell no.  I'm going to teach those babies, if I have to do it at the youth center or a coffee shop, it's going to happen.  No way they will go another week without school.  Yes, vacations are important for both the students and the teachers, but even the few extra snow days last year were painful.

My true feelings are that this potential strike is a political war, waged on the backs of teachers,  and the kids are collateral damage.   I understand there are negotiations taking place and they may still need to continue, but there must be a different way to solve our issues besides keeping our babies (many 3 to 4 years behind already) out of school.  This isn't a Coca-cola factory where while we strike, soda stops production.  Like other political machines, I feel as an individual teacher I have lost my voice in this fight.  Since that is the case, just let me continue to teach while you sort out issues.  Please stop justifying it by telling yourself you are doing it for teachers, for me.  Just stop and let me teach.  Let my babies continue coming to school.  THAT'S WHAT'S BEST FOR KIDS.

Thanks for reading and all your continued support.  I was humbled by all the friends and family members who gave to my babies and classroom this last month.  Thank you from the bottom of my heart.  I can't do it without you. 

Ms. Ohannes's Adopt-a-Classroom page

The sweetest present a teacher can receive!

At the Atten-Dance with my babies!

One of my sweet babies!

                                                    

Year 1 in the Books

Year 1 of my teaching career is over.  First year turnaround school.  We did it.  I sat down to write for this blog at least 10 times between my last post (March) and now.  But every time I did, something school related took my attention off writing and so it goes.  I have been out of school (without kids) for a week now.  Do I miss them?  Absolutely.  Is it healthy for me to be away for a bit?  Oh yeah.  The last several weeks of school I was running on fumes.  I don't want to speak for any other Dvorak teacher, but I know my grade level partner would concur.

PARCC, ANET, PARCC, NWEA, Performance Tasks...... All after spring break.   And with NWEA being the mother of all assessments as it speaks to our schools performance level (with regard the SQRP), student promotion (for grades 3,6 and 8) and teacher performance, tension was running high. 

Let me back up, because there was some really cool stuff that happened in the last 2 months as well.  My birthday was at the beginning of May.  My kids knew because it's on the classroom birthday calendar.  I started my day with one of my favorite babies, T.I. telling me, "Ms. Ohannes, I'm finna be on my business today because it's your Glo day and I'm not gonna ruin it."  Well ok then.  As the day progressed, the kids were actually SO conscious of the fact that it was MY GLO DAY that they reminded each other constantly if a fellow student got  mouthy.  At the end of the day, my Grade level partner, aka best colleague a girl could ask for, handed me a huge pile of cards and said the kids had made them for me in her class.  What got me was the messages inside the cards.  I was super moved.  Regardless of what was going on, for the remainder of the year, I just needed to look at one of these cards and I mustered up the strength for another day.

My students did well on NWEA.  My grade level partners and I were pleased with the growth and the % who made their goal which averaged about 95% between the two.  We still had a good number of students need to go to summer school, but God willing the majority will pass into 7th grade (Please God at least C.S. and D.F.!)

We took a field trip to the Museum of Science and Industry.  It was the entire 6th grade sans 6-7 students who unfortunately could not represent Dvorak in the expected manner.  (this would be not smacking girls every 5 minutes, or taking tacks and slapping people on their backs....)  We had the 3 teachers and then 2 parents who graciously agreed to go.   I had a group of 8 boys.  I took the toughest group of boys because I find I bond the most with them.  God knows why!  It was so amazing listening to their questions and how excited they were about learning.  When we got to the airplane, one student, R.M. was so inquisitive the pilot who was there to explain things told him he should seriously consider going into aviation.  All in all the kids had an amazing day.  They were well-behaved and acted like KIDS are supposed to act.  A little goofy and a lot of questions!

As we were leaving the museum, a couple of the girls heard a woman say, "all these damn black kids ruining the museum...."  Now, I fortunately did not hear her, nor did I hear about this until we were back on the bus.  So I calmly asked the kids why they think the woman might have said that.  One student T. A. (straight-As, never  in trouble, not that it matters...) said, "we were eating doritos from our pocket and we know we weren't supposed to Ms. Ohannes but she was just racist."  I looked at their faces and for a moment wanted to cry.  They were so immune to the hate, they only paused on it for a second and went on.  God bless their resiliency and ability to know ignorance when faced with it.  As for me, well, what I would have said to this woman was:

• First of all, ALL KIDS eat snacks from their pockets, it's not a "black thing";
• Second of all, these babies have as much right to be in this museum as you, in fact, probably more as you are most likely from the suburbs and our city tax dollars pay fees for the museum your ignorant a$$ probably knows nothing about; 
• Third, the group of kids I saw push several students out of the way to get to an exhibit was just that, a group of kids...even though it was a group of white suburban kids (which I know from seeing their school shirt) kids will be kids;
• Last, had I heard you I would have calmly requested assistance from a docent or security guard to alert them to the fact you were harassing children and should be banned from the premises.  

I was so proud of the way my students handled themselves that it actually made me smile.  Shortly after this exchange with the students on the bus I had to secure C.S. in double seat belts but that's another story...

The last week of school was bittersweet and went by so quickly.  It was interesting to see how my students reacted to a more lax environment than I had kept all year.  Surprisingly, they wanted work and while responding to the film "Freedom Writers" you could have heard a pin drop.  Here's a scene of that in action:

I learned SO much this year.  I learned that I have ALOT more to learn as well.  I believe my top 5 take aways would be the following for a first year teacher:

1. You can never plan enough, nor be prepared enough (Be Prepared)
2. You can always expect to have to re-work those plans (Be Flexible)
3. You must love what you do and your students, MOST of the time (Be Gracious)
4. You must be willing to take feedback from administrators, fellow teachers, and even students and acknowledge when you have made a mistake.  You WILL make mistakes (Be Humble)
5. You will be pulled to do things a "certain way", or hear about certain teachers ad nauseam. Stay the course and hold strong to the "you" that got you where you are today (Be Yourself)

I'm going to Peace out for the summer as I dig into thousands of pages of curriculum and prepare myself for another amazing year.  Feeling blessed that I get this time to prepare properly for my new babies in the fall!

If you feel so inclined please consider donating to my classroom.  Every penny goes to supplies for my students.  MsOhannes'sAdopt-A-Classroompage

Thanks!!

My response to Ed Weekly article....

Easy to Comment, Hard to Take Action

(This response is based on an article posted January 27th, 2015 in Education weekly. 

The article may be found here:

http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2015/01/28/why-do-some-schools-feel-like-prisons.html) 

I am a graduate of the AUSL Chicago Teacher Residency.  I served my residency at Johnson School of Excellence in North Lawndale in Chicago and was lucky to be chosen to serve at Dvorak School of Excellence in North Lawndale as well.  I am a proud first year teacher in a first year turnaround school.  

I recently read the commentary by Samina Hadi-Tabassum entitled “Why Do some Schools Feel Like Prisons?” in Education Weekly.  I was saddened and angered by her response.  Ms. Hadi-Tabassum qualified herself for her commentary by stating she has been “coaching and mentoring” first-year teachers in CPS (Chicago Public Schools) for almost 20 years. My first question to Ms. Hadi-Tabassum or others with similar opinions would be, “Have you been in a school that was chosen to be turned around the year before it was chosen?”    Students at our school, a turnaround school, share stories of children running the halls, hitting teachers, and children running the school.  Adults and children who did not attend the school were able to enter the school freely and limited security was in place.  Based on the number of students I have in my class repeating the grade, I must believe it to be true.   So, that “eerie” silence you hear when you enter a turnaround school?  That is order being restored so a teaching and learning environment may commence.   Does this get looser the more years into a turnaround a school is?  Probably.  But the reality is, your “cacophony of children laughing, running down the halls and slamming lockers” is not a realistic goal for our babies from the get go.  The environment our students come from are extremely different from the students you speak of, and controlled chaos has to be taught so they can be safe in the hallways and the classrooms.  The language and often physical behavior our students exhibit when a cacophony ensues is not always safe or acceptable for school.  

With regard to literary techniques that are frowned upon.  I was sad to see you miss a large part of the feedback that was probably given to this teacher.  I know this because as a first year teacher it’s the thing we forget most often.  Everything must be taught to our students.  They are there to learn so that is fair.  So, coming up to the board, when in the past, this behavior created mass chaos, has to be taught.  Good teaching entails modeling and then having students participate and then finally students leading the behavior or learning activity.  So I would bet the feedback was not so cut and dry, but that is just my hunch. 

With regard to your experience at lunch.  I cannot speak for the school you visited but I know at our school and other AUSL schools, our scholars talk at lunch and recess. That is of course, unless an adult is trying to get their attention or to line up and then in this case, they do turn their voices off to hear instructions.  When I worked on a bank trading floor, filled with educated adults, there came a time when we would have to be silent, for either a conference call, or possibly being addressed by a superior in the room.  While I am in this space, I might add, we had a dress code too.  We were mandated to dress professionally, which meant suits for the men and suits or professional dresses for the ladies.  Our uniform policy at the school, which is khaki pants and a blue polo is extremely affordable and fair for our kids.  

You mentioned that your first year teachers do not buy into this ideology of repression and then the very dramatic, “if their schools were white would they have the same rules.”  Again, there is a bigger, socioeconomic issue at play here.  There are many schools that are majority black students that have a strong climate and culture for learning already in place.  So, if their school was white and a turnaround school would they have the same rules?  Most definitely.   School Climate and Culture is the first and most important issue we address in the first year of a turnaround school.  So how dare you ask “when will turnaround schools take school culture into consideration and produce a school that enriches the whole minority child?”  Because we spent the first several month learning how to do school, my students enjoy shake brakes where they dance in between lessons to move around and release energy.  We have great class debates using accountable talk and question each others opinions in an appropriate manner.  We have valentines dances that included grade 3-8 where all the kids danced, played, ate and sang together with the help of a DJ.  We have 6th grade chants that scream our grade level and school spirit.  We greet each other every morning and afternoon with handshakes or hugs and we have peace circles when we have classroom issues.  In addition, we recently started breathing and yoga stretching the classroom. It was of course, a process to build up to these activities. Yes, we are still a work in progress, but I am damn proud of progress we have made.  Together with some amazing parents, teachers, administrators and most of all KIDS we are closing and achievement gap while readying our scholars to be leaders of tomorrow and having some fun while doing it.  I’d say we are enriching the whole child.  

But I’m just a teacher in a first year turnaround.  What do I know? 

Testing is Testing me

It's been a while since I've written.  A lot going on...personally and professionally.  Christmas break came and went.  Quicker than I could have imagined.  We are heading into the 3rd quarter, and students take A3 (third ANET assessment which was a preparation tool for PARCC which we probably won't take) in 2 weeks.  My students have all been BAS'd (Benchmark Assessment System- tells me their reading level) and shortly we will have MAP goal discussions (for the NWEA assessment)   Anyone who knows me knows I love data.  However, for a first year teacher, with no set curriculum, WHAT to teach is a challenge.  ANET sets up which standards should be taught (Common core that is) but teaching mastery of a standard in one week is an unrealistic expectation.  With BAS comes "guided reading" which, I will begin to implement in a week, and NWEA preparation demands attention the des cartes skills that, we are no longer teaching too. But there needs to be something that proves growth and the fact that teaching and learning is going on.  So I don't spend a lot of time lamenting these tests, but allow myself moments to verbally curse out the testing gods...and then I roll back on track.

What I've come to realize is, my kids benefit through 3 things:  1. a calm and safe climate and culture in the school and classroom,  2.  Consistent teaching and learning,  regardless of what standard or strand, and 3. steady, continued attendance at school.

With regard to the first one, the culture and climate, I am proud to say 90% of our staff is committed to this value.   I feel support not only from administration (best Dean on the west side, easily!)  but primary teachers as well.  Everyone hold students accountable which is how it must be.  Yes, there is the occasional teacher who shares their feelings that something is "not my job" but it is pretty rare and for that I am thankful.  My grade level partner and I get each others back with our students every time.  There is no running to mom when you are mad at dad!  My kids know what is expected during instruction and as a result, I can play music, that they like, and have admin walk in my classroom and see students intent on the task at hand. 

Second, consistent teaching and learning.  Yes, I lose my voice on the regular, yes, my feet hurt like hell at the end of the week, no, I don't get a prep or lunch most days, but it is worth it!  I teach like my pants are on fire and for that, I can say my kids are learning.  Even when they are in the lunchroom, or hall, "money language" is required!  From the moment they are in my care, until they walk out the door, scholarly behavior is a must.  Teaching happens in ever space in the school!  

Last, attendance.  My attendance is steady at 97%.  YES, I work hard for this number!  Every parent has my cell phone number and EVERY day I call each and every parent or auntie or grandma when a student isn't present by 8:45am.  School starts at 8:30am.  If your student is not in the building by 8:45am they are late and therefore they are missing teaching and learning.  At least once a week I get someone's parent or guardian who tells me their child "isn't feeling well" or "can't get to school because...".  Sure, kids get sick and occasionally need to stay home to prevent effecting all the other students, but headaches and sniffles don't fly with me!  I have found shoes and clothing for students whose parents call and tell me their child can't come because they are without these items, I have picked students up in the morning who's parents were unable to get their student to school, I have given a parent money to get their student to school when bus cards were not available.  They have to be at school to receive instruction!

I have one student who has missed 12 days this year.  His mother doesn't understand how dire the situation is now.  He has missed for suspensions, ditching school and having to take his grandma to the doctor.  She thinks he can make up the work and he will be ok.  She doesn't get it.  I finally had to tell her your son is looking at the strong reality he will be retained in 6th grade.  She said she'd come to school the next day so we could make a plan.  She didn't show.  No call.  No message.

Another student who's mom doesn't send her daughter when it rains or snows.  She allows her daughter to make excuses for missed days and work.  Pulls her out to take her to winter wonderland at Navy pier.  Her daughter was one of the highest in the class.  She is now slipping, her reading is getting worse, and she has been out a week.

Then there is the student whose mother put her in a behavioral hospital for 2 weeks because she runs away.  I visited her there.  Brought her work because if nothing else, this girl does all her school work.  She told me she doesn't feel safe at home.  She comes back to school and we hear she has run away and hasn't been home since Friday.  But she came to school.  Now, her mom is threatening to send her back to the hospital so she is ditching school.  She never ditches school.  Mom still hasn't come to school to discuss a plan.

My point in all of this is, the kids have to be at school in order to learn.  Until a student is 16, it is the parent's responsibility to make sure their kid is AT school.  We are doing everything we can at school to provide the best Free and Public education for our students.  We are definitely held accountable- via data, on may levels.  How do we hold parents accountable? 

First and 10 in the Second Quarter....

So it's safe to say my first quarter of teacher has gone better than the 2014 season for the Bears.  As a friend posted recently, "For the $142,388,905 14-15 salaries and projected $116,948,249 16-17 salaries, the McCaskey family should consider an annual evaluation system similar to what teachers have to go thru each year to keep our, "high paying and glamorous" jobs. I'm sure all my teacher friends would be happy to help write an evaluation tool."  Preach.  I could easily think of "4 Domains" for their high paid A$$, but I digress...

I have my first quarter of being a new teacher in a first year turnaround school under my belt.  I can honestly say I can't imagine it going any better than it did considering what we have in terms of resources and parent involvement.  I have a wide range of personalities in my class - from the classic over-achiever to the lazy, unmotivated can barely keep his head off the desk student.  I love them all. My grade level partner is amazing and keeps my spirit up when I need it.  The majority of our school is made up of first year teachers out of the residency.  There is a special bond we share and it is so special to be a part of an amazing undertaking and ministry because that is what this is...my ministry.

The days are long - 6:30-6:30 at the school, then home for more work until I drop, 10 or 11pm.  Lesson plans are due on Friday morning by 8am.  I have missed this deadline once and honestly, my plans ended up being better because of it.  The long days go by fast and the sense of urgency is real.  I can honestly say my colleagues and I work like a well oiled machine.  The machine still being built of course, but we run smooth.  I never bat an eye when another teacher sticks a kid in my room to refocus and likewise, they don't miss a beat when I stick a 6th grader in their line to refocus and "sit criss cross applesauce and a bubble in their mouth." LOL

Our principal is a woman of few words, but when she shares it is direct and meaningful.  She is kind, introverted and passionate.  It is easy to be inspired with good leadership.   She went out of her way to bring in massage therapists for the teachers during our PD day.  It is the small things.  From the instructional perspective, which, is my area of focus for growth (domains 1a, 1c, 1d and 1e to be exact...lol), I have unexpected resources, including an AUSL coach who is wonderful and a colleague that with only one year under her belt, is a wealth of knowledge and willing to share with me any time of day or night (thanks Laquita!) 

One areas of contention I must address is the terrible conditions the school is left in due to the scandalous contract with Armark.  The bathrooms are dirty, classrooms are not cleaned, and often are left in worse shape than we leave them in at the end of the day.  I have gone so far as to buy a wet and dry swiffer and have classroom jobs for the kids (other colleagues have done so as well).  We hear the mayor is coming to visit soon so maybe the floors will actually get mopped, but honestly, I'd rather he see how they really leave the school so he can see what a terrible job they are doing.  It is a FAR cry from Tim Cawley's statement, "They will be as clean as hospitals."  Sorry dude, not even close.  What also sucks about this is the fact that my principal has to take ANY time away from her focus which is climate, culture and instruction to reprimand an incompetent Aramark manager who never shuts up...but does nothing.  I literally cleaned the drinking fountains with Clorox wipes last week because I didn't want my kids to drink out of them the way they were. 

Anyway, we are a quarter in and aside from the normal growing pains, we are getting it done!  The kids see and understand it is a different school than years past and love it.  They are smart, funny, loving, under served children who are finally getting the Free and Public Education they deserve.  It is their right after all. 

Shout out to all the first year turnaround teams -  Team Dvorak, Team Gresham and Team McNair!  Don't forget the peaks in between the valleys.  They are there because of you!!!

Change CAN and DOES happen

3 weeks in.  I LOVE being a teacher!  It's the most difficult challenge in my professional life yet, but it is already the most rewarding.  I also know it's about THESE kids.  They are special and need more than most kids in surrounding suburbs.  I knew this coming in and am prepared for the challenge.  That means having to do it again and do it again and do it again until its right, so that process and procedures are set for a productive setting for teaching and learning.  Also, mental health issue are real.  I have never felt more compelled to write a politician than I do right now.  Our babies need help.  Medication, social workers and school psychologists are not an optional support nor should they be an itinerant position.  Our students need and deserve help so they can function in a general education school setting.

Anyway.... I have 25 babies in my homeroom.  My grade level partner Erica has 26. We are still figuring out seating charts and who can't sit next to whom, but other than that, no pure insanity has ensued in our rooms.  Transitions are a bit rough, but we are getting there.  I am so lucky to have a smart, experienced in life, loving, funny grade level partner!  She give and receives feedback and is collaborative.  I don't know what I would do if she left now!  Also, I am lucky enough to have several residents and friends at my school from last year.  Our music teacher, Kendra is across the hall from me.  The kids love her!  Also, Laquita has been a godsent!  She did more for me in one pre school meeting yesterday morning than any other coach has yet this year.  Thank you girl!  Last, it's nice to see Patrigna in the halls with her Kinder kids!  She actually brought one up and set him in my room for an hour for a consequence when he misbehaved.  I have shared with my misbehaving boys they may spend some time in her room if they continue to act like they belong there!  Last, the entire school community, all the new teachers,security and admin are amazing.  Everyone really seems to be there for the same reason  - the kids!  This shows itself in being supportive and kind to colleagues and parents.  I know Erica and I are not the only ones who have reached out to every parent by now.

I know this will be an important year for many of my students.  I have 7 in my class alone repeating 6th grade.  One boy that will be going straight to high school from me.  Yesterday, when he was saying goodbye (I have ALL my homeroom students greet me and say goodbye) he said, "you were serious when you said you were going to be on me!  Noone (has) done that before."  That made me feel good, but so sad for him.  He's not a behavior problem, just a little spacy and while a BIG kid, soft spoken.  Why did teachers give up on him along the way?  He has made improvement in THREE damn weeks, what could have happen in 3 years?  Furthermore, while doing our friday afternoon peace circle, one of the students shared, " we are so lucky to have Principal Whinney (it's Whitney) and her crew.  Ya'll don't play but we need it"  He was right.  We play, but not with students lives.  That's why students don't run the halls, classrooms or school anymore.  Adults do.  You deserve that as a CHILD to have adults in place to teach you right from wrong.  To model good behavior and hold you accountable.  That is why I don't let you sleep or put your head down in class.  That is why you may not say "Finna" in school.  That is why you must look and talk college-ready at Dvorak School of Excellence (DSOE).  Because we are here to make sure you become the best you can be.  I love you too much to ignore your behavior and not make you do it correctly.  That is my job. That is my calling.

But the media won't cover all the amazing things happening at DSOE.  After making sure the argument was made  publicly that ADULTS were being treated unfairly by a school turnaround, you won't cover the amazing changes effecting Kids.  Because that would be too crazy, right?  To show that something GOOD is happening and Change is Possible?

Here's to an amazing start to an amazing year!

We are Ready!

T-11 hours until I meet my babies.  Room 305, 6th Grade at Dvorak School of Excellence.  I'm ready.

Rewind a couple months....

I was hired at Dvorak School of Excellence.  A first year turn around school.  Entirely new staff, including the Principal, Assistant Principal, Security, Teachers...  Am I up for the challenge?  Hell yes.  This is what I trained for.  This is why I left corporate and applied for AUSL's program.  Why I gave up a year of my life, income and pretty much social contact.  All the Residency year tears, screaming matches with my Mentor (who ROCKS!!!XOXO), lack of sleep, and discovery of my self as a teacher...all prepared me for this!

So now we get ready!  We are told we will not have any money for supplies, for ourselves or our kids.  No problem.  $2000 out of pocket, Donors Choose.  Adopt-a-Classroom.  Done.  Can't get into our classroom until a week before and no one to help? Ok... Rent a U-haul with Brittany and her amazing brother shows up.  Classroom has to be ready to go by Friday for an admin walk -through.  Oh, and the classroom environment checklist is about 75 items deep, including: a plant, curtains, a lamp, college gear, fabric bulletin boards, read aloud shown, marker board configuration, quotes....  Is it alot?  Yes.  Do I mind?  No.  Our students spend more time during the school year with us than anywhere else.  If I can help make an environment warm and inviting so they feel happy and safe in school then it is worth it!  (thank you Alex and Shelly for your help and plant!!!)

So now it's Sunday, two days before we open.  Almost every teacher in in the school by 9am, voluntarily.  Most have family and friends in helping, getting it done.  Most of us leave at 7pm that night.  We still don't have garbage cans in our classrooms, or anywhere in the school for that matter.  The bathrooms have no toilet paper or soap, the stairs were not waxed even though they were supposed to be.   My principal's parents have been at school for over a week helping out.  They are there today as well.  My principal looks tired, as we all know she has been working 18+ hour days.  Some of us offer to come in on Monday (labor day) She absolutely will not allow us to.  She pushes us to take a day to get prepared and tells us we are the ones who have the most important work on Tuesday.   We know she will have everything we need for our first day complete.  She has under promised and over delivered since day 1.  She is a great leader.

Today.  I go through lesson plans.  First day plans.  20 pages.  I rewrite them into a power point for myself so I have a go to.  Review all the documents and reading for the week.   I hydrate.  You laugh, but tomorrow, I will be with my kids from 8:15 until 3:30 quite possibly no break.  I am ready.

I have gradually started to relax and stop defending my profession.  A comment here or there, but I generally leave it alone.  I am amazed by the ignorance, yet slowly starting to not care.  Working in a school, and a turnaround school even more, is not for the weak.  When most people don't know much about a topic, or know they could never work in a certain space, they put it down, or make light of it. I was one of those people so I get it.  I do.  The only difference is, I have done your job, working in corporate America.   So I laugh, because I know "you" could never do this:

Show up and leave everything personal at the door,
Take on the problems and challenges of 60-100 kids and empathize, not sympathize,
Not check your phone all day for personal calls or texts,
Bring food and personal products for students and give continually and unconditionally, 
Pee once, if you are lucky, between the hours of 8:15 and 3:30.
Stay after the kids leave, until everything is ready for the next day and finally eat that lunch you brought,
Lean on your fellow teachers, and truly be strong enough for them to lean of you as well,
Be a true team player for the good of a school culture that DEPENDS on your positive vibes and ability to give beyond 100% all the time,
Get paid less than $20 and hour when you average the time,
exist in a society that not only does not value your work,
but truly believes you, "babysit" for a living.....


As we left the school yesterday, several kids came running across the street, "Are you our new teachers?"  We just smile and said, "yes we are."  I almost cried.  I have never been prouder of anything in my life.  I am a teacher!

Best of luck to all my teacher friends, my AMAZING Dvorak fellow teachers and staff, and especially Cohort 43 and my touchstone Keviyona Ray.  (Every day the first week... Once a week after that!!)  Let's change lives!!!!

Pics of my classroom!

Ignorance is not Bliss

So this post was going to be about the trials and tribulations I have had over the last month with getting ready to go back to school- things like having to purchase 66 kids all their school supplies and all my classroom supplies, not getting paid and having to wait until mid-september and worrying if my lessons will be engaging enough to make my 6th grade babies love me.  But it all seems so selfish when an unarmed 18-year old gets gunned down in the street and a 9 year old gets shot after innocently running out of the house.  I am filled with an anxiety and urgency for my students to want to do better than all us adults are doing.  They must do better......

I waited.  I waited in my ignorant bubble that maybe they didn't shoot an unarmed boy.  I waited.  I waited for the Sunday morning news shows to have on their roundtable guests and help me understand.  And then, I got angry.  Angry that an unarmed boy walking down the street was shot, REGARDLESS of what he had done or was doing.  Angry that if my brother who was mischievous at 18, was walking down the middle of the street he would be asked to move to the sidewalk.  Angry that no one told Michael Brown how to act when he gets into an altercation with a police officer, particularly, white, and even more angry that that conversation HAS TO HAPPEN.  I feel helpless that as a 43 year old white woman I haven't done enough, and embarrassed that I joke with some of my best friends that are black that "they forget I am white" because, I will never bear the burden they do.   The burden for their children's safety, especially their sons. Not only on the streets but in the classroom too.  A close friend is moving her son out of the school he was at because even as an educator, she can do nothing about a teacher that "just hates little black boys."

It is too easy to not discuss, or to say it is "their" problem when you stick you head in a hole and don't understand what is happening.  A 9 year-old was shot after running out of his house because his mommy wouldn't give him cake.   He was just being a kid.  Shots rang out at the Bud Billiken day parade.  Homicides for children under 18 are up and the life of a black or brown child is basically a crap shoot if they live in the "wrong" part of town.

So now the blame game begins.  The cops.  The Mayor.  The gangs.  And every time we take the time to place blame, we are not appropriating our time to working to make things better.  Our children can DO better than this and DESERVE better than this!

I get crap all the time from friends and family, that "I need to be careful" where I work, how I talk to the gang bangers outside my house, what I say at police CAP meetings but WTF?  I have a voice that I am choosing to use to attempt to make things better.  Our kids do not run our streets without the adults allowing them to do so!  They do not grow up hating another race unless they see it modeled at home and in their lives.  I understanding wanting to live somewhere your kids can play outside without the fear of gun violence but why do my nephews who are the loves of my life, deserve it anymore than Antonio Murry???

Children are so impressionable, and observe everything.  Today, an old student from Al Raby helped me move into my classroom and assemble some items.  He was talking about a million different things at one time, as kids/young adults do, when he blurted out, " I mean, I wish there was more diversity where I went to school and grew up."  It stopped me cold.  I asked him, "what do you mean?" To which he replied, "I mean like more white kids and latino kids...."

Another student from last year texted me today.  We went back and forth a bit as I answered some questions about high school which he is starting in 2 weeks.  His last text was, "how is Noah doing?  Is he still sick?"  Noah, is my 3-year old nephew.  He wanted to know how he was.  I got choked up.  He had met him once, on my way back from the aquarium, and I stopped at school on a saturday when he was there.

Both these young men are smart, kind, respectful, funny and black.  How are they any different than kids in Lake Forest or Wilmette?  Besides having less money?   Why are they so innocent and honest that they have not been scarred or pulled into the fray?  Good parents? Teachers? Mentors?

I am moving next year and will be moving south.  I am looking in the community where I teach.  I am aware of the controversy it will bring with my family and love them all for loving me and will love them through their ignorance.  But I am hopeful that I will chip away as they see the life I live and the joy living in a community I am an active participant in brings me.

We cannot begin to conquer the issues Chicago has until we acknowledge the color and see the beauty in it- black, white, brown, whatever color it may be, and work together to believe all children deserve and require the same love, respect and discipline.  Period.  Your baby isn't your friend, the kid down the street isn't "lil man" and you don't let him smoke with you.  Your child isn't going to get mugged walking down the street in North Lawndale, and crossing the street when your perception of "hoodlums" is walking towards you IS offensive.  Really.  Please teach all our children better. And if you aren't up for the challenge.  Please, Please choose not to have children and fulfill your need for something to love you another way.  Help us let ALL kids be kids again. Celebrate the Jackie Robinson West Little Leaguers, and the Louder than a Bomb poetry slam winners and acknowledge the good.


RIP Antonio Murry

I Don't Make Excuses, I Make Results

Hey all! I can't believe 5 weeks went by that quickly!  Like a blink of an eye, and BAM!  We are in summer academy (summer professional development for AUSL) I'd love to be able to say I had a "carefree" 5 weeks but the planner in me almost had a stroke!  Don't get me wrong, I've worked in the turnaround setting for 4 years so I get and accept the unknown, but OH MY GOD I am running out of room in my house!!!  I have classroom crap EVERYWHERE! :)

So I am teaching 6th grade ELA/Social Science.  I'm excited!  I have poured over the data and I am ready!  I got the basic curriculum we are using which is Prentice Hall, for ELA, and I am lucky since I used it in my residency year.  We are going to be using DBQ's for social science and again, I used these in my residency so I am super lucky!  Since we are going to BAS all our kids, I spent time this summer with several of my closest co-teachers leveling books....1500 to be exact!   I completed a DonorsChoose project for a classroom set of "The Giver" which will be our first novel, and I raised a substantial amount of money so I may purchase all the supplies and book bins I need for my class and my babies.

My classroom theme is going to be: "NO EXCUSES UNIVERSITY" with an underlying motif of HBCU's and of course, pink and black as my colors.  I tried to stay away from gang colors that post near the school or North Lawndale.  That in and of itself made me sad.  Anyway, everyone had their theme so quickly but I knew it had to be a reflection of me, and my hopes and dreams and expectations for my classroom. So there it is.  My grade level partner is a friend from my cohort, Erica Brunson.  I am SOOO lucky to have a competent, responsive, awesome partner!!  We have already started planning and she is amazing.  I love everything she comes up with!  I am also blessed to have another middle school teacher from my cohort, Brittany Dellasanta.  She's like the little sister I always wanted!  She's become like a family member and my nephew says prayers for her at night.  Thank God I have some people I can trust around me this year!!

I have kept in touch with my mentor, Keviyona Ray, who is even now still giving me strength and encouragement going into this year!  I can't wait to share stories with her about stuff I worked on in my residency and how my kids respond!  I have also received encouragement from my mentors and friends, Femi Skanes and Randal Josserand.  They both help me believe in myself and furthermore, allow me to believe there are good people, doing good work in our schools and networks.
Sometimes the negative press gets you down.  I hope to do right by my kids first and foremost, but these people as well who have invested so much time, energy and love.

I wanted to lead my year with my "NO EXCUSES" mantra because it will be so for me as much as it is for my kids.  My NLU advisor, Janet Lorch gave me some awesome advice during my spring lead teach when I was struggling because I had some tech issues and I came across some stumbling blocks.  She said, "No one want to hear the negative or the excuse why you CAN'T, they want to see what you CAN do in the face of adversity."  Janet was an angel this entire year, but this piece of advice was probably the best I receive throughout the entire residency.  I will have plan B's, bounce back when things fail, and show compassion when others struggle around me and pick them up. Together we will kick adversity's ass and make Dvorak School of Excellence the BEST on WEST!

Let me Clear my Throat

Finally.  I exhaled.  School is over.  Graduation school is over.  I have completed my second Master's degree, a Master of Arts in Teaching.  Funny, I never thought anything would feel as good as receiving my MBA.  But this was so much better.  So much more...real.

I went out to celebrate with my brother and sister in law last night as they graciously offered to take me out for dinner.  I had gotten soaked in the storm, my flip flop broke and my nail had chipped.  I looked REAL good.  I should have known something was up when, my almost 3 year old nephew, (the Nugget as most of you know him) fell and cut his lip.  There was blood and he was so upset.  After checking on him, my brother said, "ok let's you and I go and Katie will meet us there."  I was like, "Dude, your kid might need stitches, we aren't going anywhere!"  He was all, "YES WE ARE!" As it turned out, Nugget was ok and we all left together.  I thought it was odd my brother was so adamant.  As we valeted and walked into the restaurant I was none the wiser to what was about to ensue.  We walked to the back of the restaurant which, I thought was normal since we had Isaiah with us and they were going to give us some space.  But there in the back were 16 of my closest friends, there to celebrate me....organized by my brother and sister in law.  I cried because I was confused and then overwhelmed with appreciation and love.  The people in the back of that restaurant had seen me through one of the toughest but most rewarding years of my life.  When my brother gave a speech I lost it again.  Ironically, one of my best friends who couldn't be there, Dolce, organized a dinner next weekend with a bunch or girlfriends as well. Together these 2 groups of people were my support system this past year. I am beyond humbled by the love and support.  It means so much to know people understand how important the journey is I have embarked upon.
My heart is full because of you.  I wrote this in thanks for you:

Maybe you sent a text on what happen to be a rough day,

" just checking in to see if you're doing ok";

Maybe you called on a Friday night,

Knowing lesson plans were for me all that were in sight;

Maybe at Starbucks you stopped by,

On a Saturday night,just to say hi;

Maybe you raised my name in prayer 

At your church, temple or synagogue, I felt you there;

Maybe you sent a care pack w stash

Filled with a pencil sharper we all hoped would last;

Maybe you posted on my wall,

To tell me you're thinking about me, that's all;

I am blessed beyond the my wildest dreams, 

with friends and family who support me;

Whatever it was and no matter how small, 

I wouldn't be here without you all.

Thank you to everyone near and far who supported, loved and celebrated my journey.  

It takes a village to educate our youth and you are part of that village for me. 

I may or may not blog over the summer, because, contrary to popular believe, there is MUCH to be done.  Once I get my grade level, there is data to pour over, common core to align with des cartes skill strands, unit planning, 3 weeks of professional development and of course - getting my classroom ready!

If you would like to support my classroom, please click the link below or feel free to forward.  Thank you so much in advance!  And thank you EVERYONE that has lent their continued support!  I get every ounce of energy and inspiration from you.

Click HERE to Adopt my Classroom!

You cannot expect people to understand your grind. It is not theirs to make sense of, it's yours. Stay focused and fulfill your destiny.                -Tsepiso Makhubedu