Growing up many of my friends already knew who they wanted to be. Some a Lawyer, Doctor, an NFL or NBA player. I however had no set idea of who I wanted to be. I had aspirations and likes of sports especially football, but wasnt set on it internally. As I grew up and went through life I realized the importance of teaching a child, protecting the mind of a child, and the importance of pouring into a child.
I was able to become a 2nd and 3rd grade math/science teacher without a college degree by working my way through the school system in separate roles. I transitioned from a dance teacher to an assistant dean and behavioral specialist where my job was to redirect the children having a bad day and get them back to a place of calmness and back in class to prevent behavior issues or conflicts.
A majority of the kids I worked with were deemed as “Bebe’s Kids” or behavioral challenged. They are often written off as the misfits or “troubled youth.“ I got blessed to be in a position to work with a struggling second and third grade class who barely could read past first grade turn their average grade in math and science around two grade levels in one semester. To do that with no degree and a little bit of training in a charter school that was more concerned on kids in seat and business was not easy but one of the most rewarding accomplishments I have been blessed to do.
All it took was determination on my end, but the children to trust me, my leadership and my genuine love and care for them as people, not just students. They helped me help them by trusting me and I earned their trust by my consistency and simply by showing up for them. Holding them accountable and making them know they are not written off in my book; they are the main characters and if they trust me, work hard and do their best I guaranteed they would be successful.
I was able to become a 2nd and 3rd grade math/science teacher without a college degree by working my way through the school system in separate roles. I transitioned from a dance teacher to an assistant dean and behavioral specialist where my job was to redirect the children having a bad day and get them back to a place of calmness and back in class to prevent behavior issues or conflicts.
A majority of the kids I worked with were deemed as “Bebe’s Kids” or behavioral challenged. They are often written off as the misfits or “troubled youth.“ I got blessed to be in a position to work with a struggling second and third grade class who barely could read past first grade turn their average grade in math and science around two grade levels in one semester. To do that with no degree and a little bit of training in a charter school that was more concerned on kids in seat and business was not easy but one of the most rewarding accomplishments I have been blessed to do.
All it took was determination on my end, but the children to trust me, my leadership and my genuine love and care for them as people, not just students. They helped me help them by trusting me and I earned their trust by my consistency and simply by showing up for them. Holding them accountable and making them know they are not written off in my book; they are the main characters and if they trust me, work hard and do their best I guaranteed they would be successful.