From the Editor
Are you settling in to your fall routine? As we enter mid-September, the school buses are back on the road; another school year is underway. With it comes new schedules and expectations for teachers, students and families alike. It’s a time of excitement, anticipation and reflection, as we acknowledge the vital roles both educators and parents play in shaping our future.
As a former teacher, I’ve experienced the challenges and rewards that come with guiding children through their education.
When I was in college, I had little idea where life would lead me. With summers off, teaching seemed like an easy choice. Once I began student teaching, however, I quickly realized the profession was anything but easy! Each day required quick thinking, constant adjustments and a level of persistence and flexability I hadn’t expected.
My first job, through an Urban Student Loan Forgiveness program, placed me in North Philadelphia teaching eighth grade English. For every six months I taught, $2,500 was shaved off my student loans—a welcome relief. However, nothing in my training prepared me for the reality of the classroom.
Students challenged me in ways I could never have predicted. In just the first few weeks, a student lit a cigarette in class, a 14-year-old girl revealed she had a 2-year-old child, and another left threatening messages on my chalkboard. The challenges were overwhelming, but I pressed on.
Over time, I found my footing. Mutual respect developed between my students and me, and I learned to adapt. However, teaching was far from the “easy” job I had imagined. Beyond classroom hours, evenings were filled with grading papers, planning lessons and attending meetings. Every student required attention and creativity, especially those with learning differences or difficult home lives.
After two years, my life took me to the shore. By 2001, I was on the other side of the education system—my twin daughters started kindergarten, and my son, with special needs, entered first grade. Parenting a child on the autism spectrum, especially when little was known about autism 20 years ago, presented its own challenges. But it also gave me a deeper appreciation for the efforts teachers put in, often with limited resources.
As students across Atlantic County and Ocean City start another school year, filled with their own hopes and challenges, I want to extend my gratitude to the teachers who carry one of the most important responsibilities in the world, and to the parents who are so vital to their children’s education.
Here’s to a great school year!
Peace & Love,
Cindy
