Urban Education

I have been teaching in an urban setting for 24 years.  I would like  to tell you that my mission has always been to put children first.  That, however, would not be the truth. 

In the early days of my career, my mission was to survive.  Teaching in an urban setting offers challenges I was not prepared for. The goal for my first year as a classroom teacher was to just end the year with my sanity intact. I was determined to make it to June then pack my bags and go home. Well, I did make it to the end of the school year but I did not pack my bags.

Now, I can proudly say that my mission does put my students first. My mission is to give students every tool I can to help them on their road to success. It is my belief that our students gain the upper hand when they develop the ability to comfortably put to use certain accepted societal standards when it is to their advantage. My mission is to give students the societal tools they’ll need along with the skills required to use them.