My Experience is My Value

I began my teaching career in 2005. I tried hard that first year, but if I’m completely honest, I had no idea what I was doing. I was fresh out of college and despite their best efforts, my college professors did not adequately prepare me for the real world of teaching. Don’t get me wrong, I learned A LOT in college, but teaching in an actual classroom and being responsible for 20-30 students on my own is an entirely different experience than learning about educational theory and best practice from a book and professor in an academic setting.

Fast forward 15 years and I am a pretty great teacher. Do you know how I got to be an effective teacher? The answer is a simple one, but one that the state of North Carolina does not value…

EXPERIENCE

I am an effective teacher now because I have learned every year how to become better. I have learned from veteran teachers, professional development and my own screw-ups and successes. Despite the fact that I am a better teacher now than I was 15 years ago, I am not paid like it. I am not respected by the state of North Carolina. I am not paid what I deserve.

I am not alone in this frustration. There are thousands of veteran teachers just like me, who deserve more. We deserve more pay, better resources, more funding for social workers, counselors, and nurses. We deserve smaller class sizes. But it is not just what we deserve, but what our students deserve and need. Our students should go to fully funded schools and have all of their needs met. As a society, we are capable of doing better.