Back to High School

"And suddenly you know, it's time to start something new and trust the magic of beginnings." --Mister Ekhart

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The last time I was in high school, I was the jock in a letterman jacket. This time around, I am a woman clicking-clacking down the hall in my heels with a faculty badge swaying and syncing with my walk. 

I am back in high school again and I have finally graduated middle school. For my eighth year as an educator, I am now a high school ELL Specialist. This position was a godsend for several reasons. Let me fire some off for you:
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1. This new job saved me from returning to my previous school. My 2021-2022 school year was pure insanity and it pushed me to my utter limits. I was physical assaulted, sexually harassed, and I daily feared for my own safety and the safety of the students. Getting out of that job was a blessing even though I had earned professional recognition and a significant pay increase. 
2. My new position has a dream schedule that allows for me to stay in front of the classroom for one block/period, but then allows for me to “push into” other classes and directly assist my ELL students. Therefore, I get to fill my teacher cup that enjoys “performing” in front of the class, but then I also get to act as a direct assistant to students with high needs. 
3. The move to the high school level has been a dream. I have always said that middle school is a “young man’s game” because of the unique mix of high-energy and low maturity. Frankly, I was running out of energy and patience for that grade-level; therefore, the move to older teens has been so enjoyable. I was always hesitant to jump to high school because I’ve always looked so young…I wasn’t sure if I could demand authority while looking close to their age, but the move has proved that theory wrong. I am loving high school and I cannot see myself leaving anytime soon. 
4. Along with teaching a new grade level, I am also in a new content area. I am no longer an English teacher who focuses on dissecting Shakespeare and proper paragraph construction, but instead I am teaching basic English Language skills for ELL (English Language Learners) students. These students are “Newcomers” to the U.S. and my job is to help equip them with English Language Skills that will help them be successful in high school. They speak literally no English and my job is to help bridge that gap. I directly instruct them as well as create resources for their other content areas. It is a varied position, but I feel like I am truly serving and that desire to serve is what brought me to education.
5. Another great aspect of this job is that I am learning how to write legal educational documents that advocate for student rights and services. Yes, this job has a lot of “red-tape” and “paperwork”, but I have enjoyed leaning into the legality of education and directly working with the Colorado Department of Education. And to be frank, that looks damn good on an educator’s resume. 

I am grateful for my current position. I am three months in and it is starting to feel like home. Things feel stable here and I see myself growing into the system. However, I am aware that I can only express my gratitude so deeply because of where I have been and all that I have learned…and for that, I am grateful for the entire journey that has led me here.