School and Community Fall 2022

A s a kindergarten teacher, I often watch children play dress up. They try on the firefighter hats, the police hats, the clown hat, the cowboy hat…. It made me start to think about the many hats that I, metaphorically, put on each day. I stumbled across a website called busyteacher.org that houses articles and resources for teachers. There, I found this poem by Stacy Bonino that has a genuine honesty to it: I’m so much more than JUST a Teacher I am a counselor and psychologist to a problem-filled child, I am a police officer that controls a child gone wild. I am a travel agent scheduling our trips for the year, I am a confidante that wipes a crying child’s tear. I am a banker collecting money for a ton of different things, I am a librarian showing adventures that a storybook brings. I am a custodian that has to clean certain little messes, I am a psychic that learns to know all that everybody only guesses. I am a photographer keeping pictures of a child’s yearly growth, When mother and father are gone for the day, I become both. I am a doctor that detects when a child is feeling sick, I am a politician that must know the laws and recognize a trick. I am a party planner for holidays to celebrate with all, I am a decorator of a room, filling every wall. I am a news reporter updating on our nation’s current events, I am a detective solving small mysteries ending all suspense. I am a clown and comedian that makes the children laugh, I am a dietitian assuring they have lunch or from mine I give them half. When we seem to stray from values, I become a preacher, But I’m proud to have to be these people because– I’m proud to say, “I am a teacher.”

Recently, the world has shared how teachers are struggling coming back to classrooms. The talk is of the number of vacant positions that are open. A focus is how “burnt out” teachers are, and how the system is in need of repair and assistance. Some of the stress can be because of the roles we play, but for some of us still walking into a classroom with coffee in hand each day - we know WHY we continue striding into the classroom. We are looking forward to sharing new concepts and the love of learning with students. We are looking to the moment something finally clicks for a student. We want to see that look of accomplishment and excitement when a student understands. We love those “lightbulb” moments. We understand that loving on this child during the school day might be the only love they receive that day. We love to make those positive phone calls home to encourage both the student and the parents. We love to see our students blossom and grow into adulthood but remembering the year spent together. We know our high standards will be met and our students will know they are valued because of our ability to push them. We do not “play,” “babysit,” or “hang out” with students but treat them as the independent thinkers and competent people. We are guiding them in their learning journey. We want to be the teacher who makes each child feel valued and important. We want to be difference-makers. YES, we have a closet full of hats that we are ready to pull out and use at a moment’s notice. Some hats haven’t been used in years, and some we use daily... but at the end of the day when we step back and evaluate our progress, we know that teaching is so much more than “just teaching.” It is MY calling. Teaching is MY passion. Teaching is MY profession! Kate Mitchell is in her 13th year of teaching and is currently is a kindergarten teacher at Kearney Elementary. She enjoys reading, writing, spending time with her family and going to the sun and sand!

BY KATIE MITCHELL, KEARNEY R-I

S&C FALL 2022 | 29