I Am a Recovering Educator
My name is Paula Baack. I am a recovering educator.
Here are my five steps*:
1. I admit I am powerless over my fate as an educator.
2. By God’s grace, I survived 46 years of teaching, loving it more each year.
3. The decision to turn over days of anxiety, frustration, physical depletion and mental deprivation to my God, helped me stay the course.
4. I gave serious consideration and reflection to the many positions I held in the past. I embraced the embarrassing moments in front of the classroom and the guilt I felt by not spending more time with my family.
5. I admit to some errors in judgement, lack of empathy on occasion, and just being plain stubborn.
*Adapted from Alcoholics Anonymous
The diminutive pulse of national teacher discontent must be superseded with a cogent, thunderous drumbeat advocating the better treatment of our nation's best asset: teachers. Understanding the point of view of communities, school boards, students, parents, administrators and teachers is paramount to revitalizing our educational system. Who better to elevate the conversation for positive change than a 46 year veteran teacher?
I am a Teacher. That is to say I was a teacher until summarily dismissed, fired, forced to retire on April 25, 2017. I am not sure which term fits my demise best. Over the past four years, I reflected on a lifetime of teaching. In my search for answers, I discovered many esteemed educators are leaving their districts due to a hostile work environment. How do we raise up this noble profession to the reverence of yesteryear? More to come…