Our mailman asked me to help his daughter with math as she was struggling.  He heard I was a math teacher from his friend who had a son in my class several years ago.  Although I don't usually tutor, my mailman is the best and there is almost nothing I wouldn't do for him so of course I said yes.

This happened to be a great week to start, since school were closed, Jill had lots of free time and it just so happened I didn't have a lot to do this week either so we met on Monday.  My mailman and his daughter walked in with the biggest box of cookies I have ever seen and sure enough, they were my favorite cookies.  I told them not to bring anything again as they were friends and friends don't need gifts from friends.

Jill and I worked for about an hour and it was obvious from her facial expressions that she was catching on and feeling really good about the things we were going over.  She even seemed to enjoy the math.  When she left we made plans for two more sessions this week.  I had a fight with her dad when he wanted to pay me.  Friends don't take money from friends and I only help people I like.

My mailman is back to work so Jill has been having her mom bring her over.  Today mom walked in with a huge bag of fruit.  More important was the way Jill was able to write a geometry proof when she left and her new confidence.  On Monday she just wanted to pass.  Today she wants honor status in math.  I assured her we will keep working until she gets this on the regents.

Working with Jill reminded me of how much I loved teaching and how much I loved working with students who needed me.  It felt good to give and it felt great to get the hug when she left. 

I have been covering college classes for years, mostly for full time professors, those with PhDs.  Some leave detailed lessons, others just pages in a book.  Some just leave exams.  They all have one thing in common.  They are extremely grateful for what I have done, thank me and request I cover again whenever they need coverage.

Mr. J is a fairly new adjunct.  I was asked to cover his class when he had to attend a meeting.  Mr. J sent me the chapter sections he wanted me to teach which was more than adequate.  I started the class the same way I start every class, asking the students if they had an questions on previous work.  Unlike other classes, these students told me they had no idea what was going on.  The teacher had covered the beginning half of chapter two and the beginning half of chapter 3.  He expected me to finish the second chapter which could not be done unless the students knew the first half.  I did some review and got through about half of what he wanted.  As I always do, I sent an e-mail explaining what I had covered.

Instead of the usual appreciation I got a sharp reprimand and a demand to finish what I was told to finish whenever I covered again. While I don't know for sure, I am betting he needed me to teach material he did not understand himself.

This is the difference between someone who can teach and someone who pretends to know how to teach.  I hope his students fill out their teacher evaluation forms professionally to let the college know this guy is masquerading as a teacher.  They deserve better.

It was 8:35 on a Wednesday morning when the phone rang.  I figured it was a telemarketer and picked up the phone ready to let loose a whole bunch of expletives.  Before I opened my mouth I heard the voice of the secretary from the community college.  She immediately apologized for calling so early but said she was desperate.  A teacher had called in sick at the last minute and she had to find coverage.  She knew I lived close.  Now, I don't like working in the summer and I especially don't like the 3 hour long classes and I hate teaching remedial but, I love the school and I love the way they treat and respect their staff so I agreed.  I folded my newspaper, turned off my I-pad, poured my coffee into a travel mug and told my husband I would be back in about 4 hours.

I managed to get to the school a few minutes early and stopped by the office to pick up a book and sign to get paid.  I thought the look of gratitude on the secretary's face was enough to make my day.  That, was not even a fraction of what happened next.

I got to the room and immediately went in search of someone to unlock the door.  The 25 students waited patiently and then filed in.  I introduced myself and then asked them to tell me their daily procedure.  I told them since I was only there for the day I wanted to do things exactly as their regular professor did them.  I found them all to be bright, enthused, motivated and extremely cooperative.  Although much of the work was familiar to them,  I threw in lots of decimals and fractions, things I knew they needed help with and they were extremely grateful.  I even emphasized that most were probably in remedial because of carelessness, not lack of knowledge and confessed to being the queen of careless mistakes.  Before we knew it, the three hours were up.  We said goodbye and hope to meet up again soon and left.

I will get a nice check for the work I did but more importantly, I had fun.  How many people can say work is fun?  Teaching used to be a fun career, a career where one can make a difference in another's  ' life.  I am so fortunate to be able to continue mine this way.  It is sad so many others cannot and so many good teachers will end up not doing what they are so good at doing.

 I thought I made up my mind to give up working in the college.  There is so much I want to do and working even two nights a week stands in my way.  I didn't want to go back but I was committed, my name was in the catalog and people registered for my class so I decided to stick it out.

Thursday was the first class.  I went in a little early to fill out some paper work and pick up syllabus to distribute.  A young man walked into the office to check on his class.  I looked at my roster and found his name.  He grinned from ear to ear when he heard I was his teacher.  He made my night.

I wish he wasn't so happy to see me.  I wish my first night didn't go so well.  I love being in the classroom and am not sure I am ready to give it up for good.

On another note, I will keep working because here I am evaluated by what I do, not by scores.  The college understands we have no control over who is in our class and whether they work or not.  We teachers are respected and treated like the professionals we are.

I covered a class in the college today and taught for the entire time.  The class was attentive and worked the entire time.   At the end, they thanked me for being there. The administration thanked me for coming in.

The people in charge of NYC schools can learn a lot from these community college kids.

It's not about the money.  A million dollars couldn't get me back in a high school.  Appreciation and respect is what does it for me.

I decided I didn't want to work so hard and told one of the colleges I won't be back in the spring.  I was only there one semester and still, I got this e-mail:

Dear POd,

Thank you for the  XX file, your service to our department this semester, and also for the gifts for Bette and her daughter.

If I don't see you... happy Hanukkah and happy 2012!  It was a pleasure having you as a colleague.  Please keep in touch and let us know if you wish to teach again at YYY College in the future.

Take Care - Dept Supervisor

I left Packemin after 27 years and got this:













Don't see anything?  Neither do I.

A colleague recently told me that he wanted the administration to  recognize him, to notice he is a good teacher and finally show him some appreciation.  I told him to give it up, that would never happen.  Admins only seem to notice teachers when they do something wrong.  A student of his heard part of the conversation and shouted, "Mr. Hope, you are the best.  We love you."  A group of kids from the class joined in.  Mr. Hope has been recognized.  One day he might realize this kind is the only kind that matters.

This week I was fortunate to be at the senior award ceremony and I watched my kids, one after one, receive award after award.  It was wonderful.  Before leaving, a former student, a boy accepted at Cornell, Columbia, Yale, U Penn and Princeton (he's going to Princeton) told me I was an inspiring teacher, one of the few that got him to where he is today. 

This week, I got my award and my recognition.  I got it from someone who matters.