A few posts ago, I asked my readers if they had a story about how and why they became a teacher.   I received this submission a couple of days ago from Roderick Woodward. I found it a great read. Thanks Roderick!

Check it out:

My name is Roderick Woodard and here’s my story on how I’m achieving my dream of becoming a teacher.

I’ve wanted to be a teacher since I was 5 years old. I remember playing school with my cousins and when I was 8, I made the decision that I was going to be the best teacher I can be!

I always believe that God does things in mysterious ways, and my dream of having my own classroom came to me in a dream in 4th grade and ever since then nothing’s holding me back!

After graduating with my AA degree in 2008 and after spending two semesters at Florida Gulf Coast University, I stopped going to school because of hardships. But I still remembered my dream of wanting to become a teacher, so I decided that since I had an AA degree to begin looking for a job with my local school district (by the way I’m from Arcadia, Florida). I spoke with a teacher at my grade school alma mater Memorial Elementary School and she informed me that they were looking for a person to work with the students in their After School Program. I thought to myself, no, don’t do this! But then a voice said “Go for it!”. So I emailed the Assistant Principal and she told me “you should’ve came to me earlier”. After talking with her, she said “you’ll start on Monday”. I walked out of her office that day on cloud 9 and called my mom and told her I got a job and she was beaming with excitement (I could tell by her reaction on the phone). While I was working part-time in the after school program at Memorial, I was told about a PE Paraprofessional position at the same school, and I immediately had my name submitted for this position, and since I already had my AA degree, I didn’t have to take the Parapro test!

I had an interview lined up for the PE Paraprofessional position and I didn’t get it the first time, but I didn’t give up! I was working after school and the Assistant Principal comes in and says “the Principal needs to see you”. I went to see the principal and she asked “are you still interested in the PE Pararprofessional position?” and I stated “Yes Ma’am, I am”. Then, she asked me, “would you be willing to replace our current paraprofessional?”. She gave me until the next day to think it over and I came in and said “YES, I will”. Once the paperwork was completed, I was cleared to start on Monday, November 9, 2009.

On my first day, I was asked by my PE Paraprofessional counterpart if I would work with the Kindergarten students in Health and I said “sure”, not knowing that I would have so many energetic students. After my first day, I started reading books and internet articles on classroom management and immediately implemented the strategies I learned and after a month, KG health became my favorite group to work with because I began to see the growth and progression in each student. At the end of the school year in 2010, I was moved to Desoto Middle School because of budget cuts in our district.

(On another note, I started going back to school at Ashford University (Online) in March 2010 with a major in Social Science with Education Concentration)!

Moving on–My first day at Desoto Middle School (by the way, I was a student from 1998-2001) was a completely different ball game. But once I got to know the students (many of them of which I worked with in past years), it became an experience to enjoy! I will enter my third year as a paraprofessional in August!!

I’m graduating from Ashford University this Fall, with the goal of becoming an elementary school teacher. I will take all I’ve learned as a paraprofessional and go out and be an effective teacher!!!

God bless!

Future Teacher,

Roderick T. Woodard

Thanks again Roderick. I expect that you will have a great career making a difference in countless of students’ lives!

Do you have an inspiring story on how and why you became a teacher? Send it to me, and I’ll post in on SITC.

Thanks,

Sam

A few posts ago, I asked my readers if they had a story about how and why they became a teacher.

Michael Graffin from

A Relief Teacher’s Journey, @mgraffin sent me an email with his story. It was first posted on What Ed Said.

Thanks Michael!

Here it is:

A life journey begins …

About seven years ago, I was the Year 12 Academic Dux of my school, and I had no idea about what I wanted to do with my life. My teachers wanted me to become an engineer. My parents thought I’d make a good teacher.

My journey began as a work-experience student at my local primary school, where an encounter with one particular child would change the course of my life. This child wasn’t the nicest, brightest or most well-behaved kid in the class. He was small, academically weak, and not particularly well-behaved. Unfortunately, his teacher’s management approach consisted of yelling and sending him to time-out in the storage alcove at the back of the class, his “second home”.

Even then, this struck a nerve; and I made a point of working with this kid in his little time-out space. To this day, I’ll never forget the look in his eyes as I helped him with his maths. At that point, I knew: I was going into teaching to help those troubled children who other teachers had given up on.

I was only 17, and I was going to be a teacher. Little did I know …

I excelled in my university studies, yet I entered teaching ill-equipped to cope with the practical realities of teaching. While I took steps to rectify my glaring weaknesses, more than anyone will ever know, I spent my first year and a half of teaching feeling disillusioned, bitter, incompetent and isolated.

Things got better …

I was a relief teacher – free to learn from my mistakes, develop my classroom management skills, and take risks in my teaching. It wasn’t an easy road – I got knocked around on many occasions, but I came to appreciate the opportunity to observe and reflect on experienced teachers’ practice in different schools.

But they haven’t always gone to plan …

I was appointed to my very first class – without warning, on the first day of the 2011 school year. Sadly, the position lasted a mere six days. There was a staffing reallocation, and my class, ‘Room 11’, was no more. My students were split up, and I was moved into a temporary, eclectic teaching and support role.

It took me a long time to recover from this crushing disappointment, but I became a stronger, more mature teacher for the experience. I may not have had my ‘own’ class, but for the first time in my life, I felt like a teacher. I had my staff badge, my own keys, and the freedom to quietly experiment with ICT. I wasn’t an outsider. I was part of a community.

I’ve learnt and been through so much, and I’m moving on …

My journey wasn’t meant to be easy. It’s been one wild ride. Yet, with the grace of God, I’m still here. I’m not quitting. Why should I?  My experiences have helped me better appreciate my family and my PLN (Personal Learning Network).

Now, after rediscovering my passion for teaching, I take a great deal of comfort from @coolcatteacher’s recent reflections:

The greatest teachers often have the greatest obstacles to overcome. The greatest shames … You don’t really see the pain. You don’t [see] the heartache …. as they experience their own humiliation and failure. They are there.

I know.  I see it.  I feel it.  I refuse to believe it is all for nothing.

One day, I will teach a class of my own. For now, it’s time to move on.

Perhaps, one day, I will become a great teacher.  I certainly hope so.

Thanks again Michael,

I think you are already a great teacher!

Do you have an inspiring story on how and why you became a teacher? Send it to me, and I’ll post in on SITC.

Thanks,

Sam