Title - Riches are not true rewards
By - Mark-Thomas Tye McKeehan
I always knew I wanted to be a teacher. I played school with my little sister teaching her to read before she entered kindergarten. I've had a love of learning and building knowledge since an early age.
My school years were horrible - dealing with bullies and teachers who didn't seem to care. This only encouraged my desire to return to the classroom as a teacher to stop the violence and to inspire. After graduating a year early, I realized I did not have the self-confidence to be a teacher. I entered the accounting profession instead. This allowed me to succeed and to build the confidence I needed. I left that profession to return to college and get degrees in education. I found it difficult to locate a job in the public school system, so I worked for private schools and eventually transitioned into program leadership and then finally corporate training. The pay became much better than that of the teaching profession.
Soon I was at a very high level of this career working in technology for a major corporation. This afforded me a new house, vehicles, and vacations - even some plastic surgery! But I found I was not happy. I was working on million dollar projects for a billion dollar company. My bank account was full, but my heart was empty.
I taught at the college level to keep my hand in the door of education and even got my doctorate in education. But this was not enough. Finally, I made the decision. Difficult as it may be financially and dealing with the reactions of others, I began applying for jobs in the school system.
Late in the year, I quit my job, cut my salary in a third, to accept an Open-End position to teach out-of-my-field. With no promise of a contract for the next year.
On my first day I wanted to introduce myself to the students and answer their questions. I got the usual questions of my age, if I was married or had kids, and what we were going to do in class. But then I got a question that caught me off guard. A student asked, "Do you really want this job?"
As I looked out on the 34 faces staring back at me, suddenly I could think of a million (at least 34) reasons why I wanted this job.
E-Mail Mark-Thomas Tye McKeehan!
|
Math
Language Arts
Science
Social Studies
Art
Computers & Internet
Music
P.E. & Health
Other
Multi-Disciplinary
