Becoming an Educator in the 21st Century

That old saying: "Nobody is perfect." Ain't that the truth. In fact, no one is anywhere near perfect because sometimes life throws some crazy shit in your way and despite your best efforts or talents or hard work, the opportunities are simply not there. But that doesn't mean that you can't try. Sure you might fail, but you absolutely need to try your hardest for what you really want in life because, well, it is what you want out of life that is important.

I realized that I wanted to be a teacher about the time that I entered high school. I had some pretty kick ass mentors that gave me a quality education. Someone gave this poor little Mexican boy a chance to succeed and I wanted to take that opportunity and show the world that I could pay it forward to several generations of students by encouraging them, motivating them, and showing them that they had potential to be somebody in life. I wasn’t going to be just a teacher, oh no. I was going to be the teacher.

Then I entered college, and the economy was awesome. Then I graduated and the economy was stable. Then I entered my credential program and the financial world went to shit. The little green arrow that normally pointed up was now a red arrow descending on the hopes and dreams of millions of Americans. I had no idea what any of this meant at the time because I was so focused on my goals. Nothing could stop me, not even one of the worst recessions we have ever had.

I was lucky enough to receive a paid internship at a school for emotionally disturbed girls. I was going to teach for the first time. It wasn’t my dream job, but at least it would help give me experience and help pay for my increasing college debt. I taught there for three years. Those three years validated my choice in careers. I smiled from ear to ear and life was grand. I even saved some money and bought a house at the age of 24. Then I was laid off. My last day of work was two days before my wedding day. I went a year without teaching, and my new wife and I had a set of problems that we never anticipated. She pushed me to move forward and keep trying and I did.

Finally I got a job working at a middle school in LAUSD, the second largest school district in the nation. I worked with some wonderful people and met some amazing educators who were buried in work by a district that was too large to be managed effectively. In February I received a pink slip. In March I was told that I would be brought back the next year. Later in March I was given another pink slip. Obviously, this was not a very stable place to be for someone looking to start his career.

During the summer I found work in my alma mater district. This was pretty much my dream job. The pay was great, the benefits fantastic, and more importantly, they hadn’t let go of any teachers in the past 20 years. What a wonderful track record. My first year went by quickly and I made an impressive mark on the school and my administrators. My second year, I was given a pink slip. The notice was given to me days after I found out that my wife was expecting our first child. I was devastated.

There were some hearing and a legal battle, but the district made due and released several teachers from several schools. At this point, the economy had made somewhat of a bounce back and jobs were out there for experienced teachers (can’t say the same for first year teachers). I had been teaching for 6 years, and in a classroom for 7. I had finished my credential program and my BTSA (2 year induction program), plus I was confident in myself as an educator and my abilities to succeed in teaching students.

So what happened to this poor little Mexican boy? Well, that summer I went into every interview and handled business. I received offers from multiple schools and pretty much had my choice in where I wanted to go. Was I worried after I was laid off with a baby on the way? Yes, but I knew that I had worked hard to get where I was at and my track record was that of a proven educator who was a victim of an unstable economy. I would be lying if I said I didn’t think about leaving the profession. The same profession that I had already invested years, money, and heart into. But I stuck with it. My wife helped me realize that this was what I really wanted, and if you don’t keep trying for what you really want, then your not really living life. 4 schools, 5 pink slips, and 7 years teaching later I am a better person. Sometimes life throws some crazy shit in your way. You just have to learn to go with the flow.