“I touch the future. I teach.” Christa McAuliffe

As I travel the state talking with educators, I continue to be inspired by the dedication and passion I see in spite of the frustrations and worries.  I was reminded of why I chose this profession when I visited a high school in my home district of Los Lunas recently. A former student approached me and asked if I was Ms. Morgan, his second grade teacher.  After happily discovering our connection, I told the student that I remembered a story he had written when he was in my class. It was about the ocean and he had published it on our classroom computer so many years ago. I remembered this book because he had written such a good story and illustrated it so well, and he was such a good student, working hard, creative, a leader in the class. To my surprise, he also remembered the story and even the title, “Under the Ocean.”  While I was surprised to learn that he was graduating this year, I was not surprised that he has a scholarship to UNM and was a leader in his school. I am so proud to have been a part of his school life. He touched my life and helped me to be the person I am today as well.  And that’s why we do what we do - we are inspired by and committed to our students, and sometimes we need to pause and remember that’s why we do this work. Whether we are in the classroom, driving the students to school every day, serving them a meal in the cafeteria, or greeting them when they come to the office, we touch our students’ lives … and they touch ours.

However, the reality is also that the frustrations are increasing. Teachers have made it clear that they are tired of all the testing. I continue to hear concerns about the number of days that are lost to instruction because of testing requirements by the district. Teachers aren’t concerned about being accountable-they know they are held accountable every day by students, parents, administrators and each other. They are concerned about students not having adequate learning time because of all the time required for testing, analysis of the testing data, paperwork such as  improvement plans, reports to parents and administrators,  grading, meetings, phone calls and emails  to parents, and the list goes on.  Teaching is a profession and requires time well beyond the hours students are in the classroom.  

We have been sharing that message at the state level and there has been some relief. Districts had the opportunity to apply for waivers from many of the testing requirements and many did so. At the legislative level, the mandate for 180 full days of student contact was delayed for another year and will be studied during the interim. These successes do make a difference in the daily life of educators. We will continue to work at the state level to improve working conditions - for these are the learning conditions for our students.

 At the federal level, the administration has heard from NEA members and leaders and recognizes the problems with NCLB. The new Blueprint proposal does away with that misleading title in the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Schools Act (ESEA). You’ll find more information about this in the April issue of the Advocate’s Voice that you should have received in the mail.  While there are several concerns with the blueprint, it does indicate recognition that the current system that judges schools on flawed data has to change, and student growth should be considered.  We’ll be keeping you updated on what’s happening and on what you can do to help shape this legislation to best meet the needs of students while recognizing our professionalism. 

As you begin testing season, as you supervise test after test and try to convince students that they should again do their best on yet one more test, take some time to reflect on the difference you make every day. In spite of the obstacles, you continue to touch lives, to shape the future, to teach.  Thank you for what you do.

In unity,

Sharon