Throughout my teaching career and in my time spent as an administrator, I have been blessed to meet so many wonderful people. People who shared my desire to be the change we wished to see in this world and to do so through education.
As a single mother, I was determined to better the lives of all who crossed my path. I know that many times I struggled. As a single mother, struggling with money, commuting an hour, and dealing with personal issues, it was not always easy. It was my job, my duty, and my honor to help my students succeed and to make sure they had every opportunity for success. Unfortunately, my own self care was not a priority. My story is not unique.
I have met teachers who are single parents, widowed, dealing with domestic violence, family with opioid issues, financial concerns, homes that went on fire, flooded, or even worse…colleagues that were evicted or lost their homes. I have lost many colleagues who have unexpectedly passed in accidents or suffered from terminal illness.
Most teachers I know, work two jobs and have many struggles. And yet these same people come into work every morning with a smile on their face, planning fun projects for their students often bringing food and supplies (paid for with their own money) – doing all that they can to make the lives of their students better.
One can go on Google and find a million sites devoted to teacher resources, lesson ideas, and even sweepstakes that offer to redesign their classroom. There are a plethora of grants that will financially support any and all classroom wishes teachers may desire. In fact, I actually won one of those model classroom grants! I had the coolest classroom ever- furnished with $10,000 worth of stand up and write on desks- and every other tech accessory a 14 year old could want.
Whether it be spending money out of their own pocket, infinite hours outside of the classroom bettering their lessons and their craft, grading papers on a soccer field… teachers work harder than most could even imagine.
There is not an educator around that has not heard the phrase “No Child Left Behind”. As educators, we spend so much time on the social and emotional growth of our students. But what about the teachers?
What about the teacher going through chemo and coming to work? Or the teacher whose spouse was laid off and is struggling financially? What about the teacher whose car dies or loses their house? What about the teacher who has to take unpaid leave to take care of a dying parent? Or the fact that teachers (at least in NJ) don’t get disability. Never mind the fact that teachers have a summer off each year , because that summer without work, is without pay as well.
It is our goal that those who choose to be in a profession that serves to better our future- should at least have a place, or resources, or assistance when they need it. It is our goal that in the fight to ensure no child is left behind- that we can do all that we can to make sure no teacher is left behind either.
It is our mission to help as many teachers as we can, to find relief through self care, financial assistance, advocacy and support.
It is the goal of teachtlc.org to not only help teachers throughout the nation, but also throughout the world. Creating a network of teachers and resources- it is the vision of TEACH TLC to make sure our teachers are at least as well cared for as the students they serve each and every day!