This week is National Teacher Appreciation Week and to celebrate, ExcelinEd would like to showcase our team members that are former teachers. When asked to share their “why”, this is what our former teachers had to say about the inspirational career of being an educator.
“On one of my first days of teacher onboarding, I walked into the Memphis high school to be greeted by a corkboard that had one sheet of paper stapled to it, containing this message: O% of the senior class is college ready.
What a horrifying statistic—and a horrifying way for students to be welcomed. In that moment, all of the reasons why I wanted to teach were heighted and amplified. I was determined to be a part of changing that narrative for my students, because every single student deserves the opportunity to receive a great education, to explore their passions and be prepared for their chosen next step in life.”
Adrianna Harrington
“My desire to be surrounded by smart, passionate, dedicated friends and colleagues is what drove me into teaching. How could I continue always having these conversations and connections? How could I be sure to have people around me who inspire me, who push me to be the best version of myself? The answer was by becoming a teacher myself.
While I am no longer teaching, my teachers—and my former coworkers and my former students who became teachers—are still my “why” for what I do in education policy. I am here to support them and their work and everything they provide for our students.
Thank you, teachers. Happy Teacher Appreciation Week!”
Teresa Lundgren
“I was inspired to teach by several of my own teachers, in whom I saw such passion for their subject matter – whether it be mathematics, physics, Spanish or music. Their passion was surpassed only by a genuine care for their students and interest in their growth as uniquely created individuals. Although I initially entered college undeclared, I could not escape the desire to follow a similar path and help shape the next generation’s success.”
Nathan Oakley
“I’ve wanted to be a teacher since I was four years old and lined up my dolls and stuffed animals for school. When my brother was born the following year, he just got added to my classroom!
In college, I completed a traditional teacher preparation program in history and social studies education. Since then, I’ve had the opportunity to teach everything from middle and high school social studies to, more recently, college-level public policy. Teaching is the hardest, most meaningful and most rewarding work I’ve ever done, and I want to share my appreciation to teachers at all grade levels this week!”
Amy Owen
“Teaching was personal for me. I grew up in a big city and went to a huge urban high school in Memphis where I felt like I was just another number. I wasn’t always a good student, and in my junior and senior year, I started missing a lot of school. I wish I could say there were teachers who noticed and reached out to help, but there were not. That’s why I became a teacher – I wanted to help kids who didn’t have everything laid out in front of them. Some of my favorite memories from the classroom are of helping kids chart their lives after high school graduation, even if that meant working and saving up for a car so they could escape the small Mississippi town where they were born and raised. Sometimes all it takes is a single adult who cares, and a student’s entire life trajectory can change. That is why we celebrate our teachers!”
Jack Powers
“Thinking over my experience as a teacher always brings me back to memories of the incredible students who passed through my classroom. As a special education teacher, I worked with students who struggled but had great potential. That potential wasn’t always easy to see, but giving up wasn’t an option.
Remembering those students and their ability to overcome has kept me in the fight against illiteracy. The fight for ALL students to have the opportunity to be taught to read. Even those that are hard to teach.
Always keep trying and never give up. The leaders of tomorrow are counting on us.”
Sonya Yates
