There’s a lot of negativity surrounding education lately, but especially following the COVID pandemic. I absolutely agree that there is a lot to be down about: lost learning time, education gaps and missing foundational skills, a widening achievement gap, and a complete end of education for some (World Economic Forum, 2022). That’s to say nothing about the social-emotional traumas and losses which are nearly impossible to quantify yet I would argue have some of the deepest impacts.

However, despite the difficulties and the negativity and occasionally myself teetering on the edge of giving it all up, I am still here, and ready to keep pushing through the challenges of teaching after 2020. I owe a lot of that determination from one of my own high school teachers.

I graduated with high school senior class of 10 (yes, ten – 5 boys and 5 girls). My science teacher was also our volleyball, basketball, and track coach and STUCO sponsor, but what I learned from her most of all is that it is worth it to continue to push yourself and keep getting better, even if you’ve already achieved more than you would have ever expected.

I now, in my 6th year of teaching, actually have the honor of teaching alongside of her and continue to learn so much, both on a personal and professional level!

It might be hard to imagine if you’ve never lived it, but if you’re thinking of giving up, why not try teaching in a small school? (I’m talking 20 or fewer students per grade level!!)

I am so happy to be teaching in a small school – I teach 6th – 12th grade every day. I learn so much about my students and who they are and how they learn. I get to work with them on the all-school play, during athletic events, field trips, prom, community service days – you name it! We as teachers have a lot of responsibilities, but are treated well because our communities understand that without us, the school will be lost. Of course the challenges stemming from COVID and beyond are still present, but having the ability to have closer relationships with students because there are fewer allows me to find their gaps and their struggles and their strengths, and teach to those.

That teacher that had such a positive impact on my life? Well – I hope that I can be that to someone else. That’s why I’m still a teacher, and that’s why I choose to teach in a small school.