To my students,

I know that we have only been back to school for a week or two, but I there are a few things I want you to know.

First and foremost, I am not an overly emotional, wear my heart on my sleeve kind of person. However, this does not mean that I don’t care about you. I take my time getting to know each and every one of you. The best relationships are built over time.

I pride myself in being your teacher, I only get 180 days with you and there is so much I want you to learn. There is never enough time in the day, this is why I may seem rushed or seem like I am pushing to get through material.

I see the potential in each and every one of you, so it pains me when you sell yourself short or take the easy way out. Nothing good comes easily. Nothing beats the sense of accomplishment of a job well done. I still find joy at the end of a class period gone well, even after 22 years. When you do well, I am a happy teacher. You are all capable of big things, you are your only limitation.  Am I hard on you sometimes? You bet. I push you because I care, sometimes more than you know, sometimes more than I show.

I think about you when I go home. I hope you’re safe and happy when you’re not at school. I come to your games, plays and concerts because I want to come. I don’t get paid extra. I come because it’s important to you, therefore it’s important to me.

Will we always get along? No. No relationship is perfect and ours won’t be. I don’t expect perfection, I just expect effort. Be better today than you were yesterday. Will you always be my student? Yes. Even when I have your son or daughter in class, you are still one of my kids.

Face it. There are days when you will be on my last nerve. There are days when I will be on your last nerve. But I am your teacher, by choice, and I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else. You’re stuck with me.

Signed,

the slightly crazy lady in A304.