My Job

I teach high school on a Native American Indian Reservation.

After graduating college, I knew that I wanted to teach high school and then apply to law schools a few years later. In the great state of Arizona, to teach at a charter school a teacher does not have to be a certified teacher. So in Arizona I was going to stay. Finding a teaching job is not easy. I went on two interviews before I interviewed for the job I have now. There were two interviews for this job. After the second interview the principal called me within the hour to tell me that the students that were present during the interview loved me and that I got the job.

This was my dream job. I was going be teaching U.S. Government, U.S. History, and World History (I could do without teaching the latter). Either way I was going to be teaching at the high school level. It is funny on the first interview they asked why I wanted to teach high school. My response: "Because they are people....They are old to talk to like people not like children. Does that make sense? Was that not the right answer?" Principal: "That is exactly what I think because they are people. Little kids aren't really people....you can't talk to them like people." My thoughts exactly.

Our semester is ending pretty soon. With that end there is going to be a lot of changes. Basically I am heading the history department in the district. I will get to write the curriculum and whatnot. All exciting things that I will be doing this summer in addition to studying for the LSAT.

Over the course of the school year different things have happened. I have had students call me racist, stupid, f**king b*tch...the list goes on. Two weeks ago or so was Teacher Appreciation Day and my eyes were wide open. The all of the students contributed to poems that they wrote all for the teachers. One of the students gave me the poem that the principal put in a frame. Then that same student unloaded all sorts of problems that she was having to me. I realized that she was not the first student to trust me like that.

Yesterday, the school put on our youth conference where the students present to community members and lots of people. Two students and I were in charge of the sign in table and various behind the scence activities. One of the girls asked if the conference went this smooth last year and I told her that I had no clue because I was graduating from UA. She couldn't believe that this was my first year teaching and told me that I was a really good teacher. She asked if I liked teaching at the school. I told the girls that I loved them and that I would do anything for them. They laughed and didn't believe me. Then I told them that I was serious and gave them examples. And they said "you do love us."

Fast forward to today... We had our district graduation breakfast (small school district) with all of the graduating seniors. The two boys that I sat with were just so much fun. I kept thinking that this was job to hang out and teach some of the coolest people I know.

Most teachers write letters of recommendation for college. I haven't. Instead, I have helped a student write a letter to a judge regarding her mom being in jail. I have listened when students come to me and tell me about their latest trouble with the law and looking up different laws for them. My policy is simle. I will help them and do everything I can for them as long as they are completely honest with me and tell me the entire truth. They have. They tell me more truth than I could have ever thought possible. A student came to me on Thursday and asked if I could write a letter to a judge on her behalf.

I am glad to know the students do trust and depend on me.