Today we had professional development in our district.  Now, I know what you are thinking (probably the same thing I thought when we got our agenda).  Another PD, another speaker, blah, blah, blah.  BUT, it was different today.  The speaker was Jim Harris and he spoke on Truths, Lies, and An Opportunity.  Wow!! Is all I can say.  All year long I have wondered if I need to find another profession to finish out my career.  I am burned out and evaluations/CCSS combinations just had me wondering.  12 more years just looked to long to complete under these conditions.  That was, until Jim spoke...God spoke.  It was as if it was a message sent straight to me to confirm my choice of careers.  Now, I must take a moment here and backtrack a little to my childhood.  Anyone could ask me, what do you want to be when you grow up?  Always, always, my answer was a teacher.  I wanted to be a teacher.  Never did anything else ever enter my mind.  When I entered college I knew the track/path I was going to take and I knew how to get there.  Never, never changing my mind.  I have always loved my choice and loved teaching, not for the summer vacations but for the love of teaching itself.  The rewards came from interacting with the students and TEACHING them new information and getting them to understand the processes.  I was born to teach, I think?!?!
     Now, fast forward to this year.  Add in new evaluations(four a year, 2 announced and 2 unannounced) and CCSS.  I began to doubt question my career.  Could I make it under these conditions 12 more years and what if the state decided to put more on us.? I have prayed about this.  I have meditated on this.  I have pondered, all year long.   All of this came to an end today when Jim Harris spoke.  Two statements he made stuck to me like glue.  "This is who I am.  This is what I do."  The question he asked overall is "what profound positive effect can you have with what you have been given?"  My students, effect, profound, make the best of what you have in front of you, who I am, what I do.  All of this running through my head.  Yes, I chose to become a teacher.  Yes, I have always wanted to to do this.  I have always wanted to have a positive influence on a kid's life.  I am a teacher.  This is who I am.  This is what I do.  Will I remain in education?  Will I continue teaching what I have been given?  Yes, profoundly, YES! I am a teacher.  This is what I was born to do.  I have not, nor will I ever again doubt this.  This is the reason God left me here on earth, when I should have gone on that day.... but that story is for another day.
    I teach.  What do you do?