As I close the door to my classroom for the last time there are so many emotions that are overcoming me. Thinking about how teaching found me, all the many wonderful educators that I have had the privilege to work with and mostly for all the students that have either entered my classroom doors or crossed my path in one way or another.
I have had many classrooms over the years. I know this isn't rare to many teachers but to me each classroom symbolizes different progressions of my career. My first classroom was shared. As I have mentioned before, I started at the NC School for the Deaf, sharing my space with a veteran instructor who was soon to retire. While there, I also taught a PE class once in the gym, so that counts right? My main teaching space at NCSD was a three thousand square foot area that included computer area, darkrooms and a full print shop. It was a dream area to work in and while there I was allowed to rearrange it several times.
From there, I was hired by Burke Co schools to begin teaching at East Burke High. In the beginning, I was in a cramped, cluttered area that was left behind by a retired teacher that I swear his real name was Fred Sanford. While in that room, I also taught in other rooms around the building including a room without walls, door or ceiling and a room that had an awful echo. From there, I was moved into my permanent room where I put up a giant Space Shuttle mural on the wall and it made the space come alive.
I was shared with Patton High a couple 3 semesters and had some of the smallest class spaces that can be imagined. I called one the cupboard under the stairs. Once I started at The STEAM Academy, I thought I had gone full circle because I was back on the NCSD campus but was only in Jeter Hall for 2 years and then to Western Piedmont Community college for the final 3.
I know I rambled on about all the classrooms I've had but to me each one has it's own memories. Each space had students' faces associated with it. Each one has different colleagues whom I could share a laugh or a few tears with.
I wish I could remember each and every student and staff whom I have come in contact with but the memories are good enough. It's been fun recalling things that I haven't thought about in ages. It's still fun running into former students from time to time and that's where the rewards are mostly.
I hope I find something just as rewarding in the near future but I seriously doubt it. I would never try to replace any of the experiences, good or bad. I think that over the course of my career, I carry every contact in my heart that makes me who I am and who I am most proud of!
As you can see above, I have a big collection of books and novels that I have been saving for the last few years to keep me busy and my mind entertained. Where should I start?
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