Many people express surprise when they learn that I have, throughout my fifty plus years as an educator, taught a full day in the classroom and worked my administrative duties in the wee hours of the morning or late at night.  They are just as surprised to find my daughter, Michelle, has chosen to do likewise.  Why?  It’s about relationships.

    I did not become an educator to sit in an office and shuffle paperwork all day.  I wanted the excitement of working with students and challenging them to be their best.  Nothing is as rewarding as being able to establish a relationship with students and through that relationship having the opportunity to influence students to become their “best” self.  I take this relationship very seriously since the Bible quotes Jesus as saying, “Anyone who causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to be thrown into the sea with a huge millstone tied around his neck.”  Teaching little children is an awesome calling!

    I have the joy of seeing many of the students I’ve taught living successful and fulfilling lives.  But the best experiences are those students who came back to say, “Thank you, Mrs. Johnson, for believing in me!”  It makes all the bitter times disappear from my memory.  Oh, it isn’t easy to always look for and find the “good” in each and every child.  Some children have been beaten down to an emotional basket-case so much that accepting compliments is not in their social ability.  We have to really work hard with these children…sometimes, we never are able to reach them with the good news that they can change and rearrange their lives.

    Teaching full time while being an administrator also helps me develop a relationship with my employees.  I am on the front lines with my teachers.  I make the same mistakes many of them do when we are tired or the children aren’t particularly interested in learning.  Thus, I can have empathy for their situations…I have experienced it also.  

    I always told my husband that I often did the “work” missed by some teachers so that they would see what I expected of them.  He pointed out that sometimes, people will just let me go ahead and do it for them…and think nothing more of it.  In those times, I have to pray more for both me and that employee…so that I do not develop a negative relationship with that person.  So, if I look for the good instead of focusing on “poor me” doing my job and someone else’s job too, I realize the benefits.  For one thing, my husband nor I will ever starve to death for lack of a job.  We have both learned to do every kind of job from janitorial and maintenance to construction.  

    Many people who have visited our school or have had their children in our school have commented that it’s “a family feeling.”  Everyone belongs…all are important.  That gives our whole family much satisfaction and joy.  When you enjoy going to do your day’s work, life seems pretty good!  

                                            -Kay