That’s another reason why people become teachers: the challenge of the change. We want students to grow and become better versions of themselves. It’s not about grades or requirements, it’s about pushing them to change and improve. Never settling for halfway but always pushing to the next level, just like Joanie’s mom and I did for Joanie. We knew she could do better, but we had to find what made her tick.

Many teachers enter the profession so they can make the same difference that these “one”s made. They want to see the kid in the corner hiding from the rest of the lunchroom. Meet the child on the playground who is dragging their feet while swinging because no one wants to play with them. Sit with the boy who doesn’t talk because the girls make fun of his teeth. Help the girl who’s always told she’s dumb and doesn’t know how to believe in herself.

Loving what we do must collide with the love of Christ radiating through our words and actions. When this occurs, god’s love, along with our own, will be clearly seen by our students.

God called me to teach; I know this one hundred percent. Part of answering the call was becoming equipped by pursuing a degree in education. Classroom management, diversity, children’s literature, data analysis, math, science, social studies, English, and English as a second language. This is just a sampling of the classes I took to earn my elementary education degree. Some of the classes I enjoyed, others gave me pertinent knowledge, and then many were a waste of time.

Day 1 As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace. 1 Peter 4:10 (ESV)                Good things are not always God things. Just because we are good at something doesn’t mean that is what we are gifted in it. Plenty of people can stand in front of a room filled with young minds and present a decent lesson that delivers key points and important facts. But being good and being gifted are two different things.               Th

I’m grateful for the example of these teachers; they showed me how to be a teacher. They taught me the value of one voice and the importance of a single adult caring for a student. I learned how much it means to be seen and how that can change the course of a student for a lifetime. And I learned that teaching is about changing lives, one at a time.