http://www.quarterlifemag.com/2009/12/brandy-weberb-a-teacher-with-persistence/ Our Own Words Sat, 04 Feb 2012 17:45:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1-RC2 http://www.quarterlifemag.com/2009/12/brandy-weberb-a-teacher-with-persistence/comment-page-1/#comment-160 You Have to be Kidding Thu, 14 Jan 2010 21:30:05 +0000 http://www.quarterlifemag.com/?p=1714#comment-160 It is amazing how different perspectives can be. I also worked with this individual and know how much time and effort went into supporting her as she started her teaching career. There is no question that she is, as she says, "a bubbly, social, happy personality." I found her to be a nice young woman who struggled with her first year of teaching. Yes, our children and families are challenged in many ways, but as teachers, we are called to look at the good and "do what we can while we have the children in our care." The challenges we face bring us the joy of teaching when we see ourselves making a difference. It takes a special kind of teacher to love and succeed in schools that are often called challenging. I love what I do, our community, and never hesitate to do whatever it takes to make a difference. That is what all the teachers here do...and we do it because we choose to be here and to live our lives making a difference. As for the lack of help and support....there is nothing to say to that but it is not true from this vantage point. As the writer above said, this young woman was handed plans, activities, teams to work with, mentors and district level support. What more could be offered, I don't know. I truly wish Brandy well, and hope that she continues to enjoy what she does. I believe early childhood education is the key to school success and I hold the highest regard for early education teachers. To close, all I can say is that my perspective and that of many others who experienced the year Brandy is referring to is very different. She did have a huge amount of help and support. I guess we were just not the right fit for this young lady. I wish you well and hope that as you reflect back on this time to which you refer, you will recall some of the willing people and help that was daily offered to you. It is amazing how different perspectives can be. I also worked with this individual and know how much time and effort went into supporting her as she started her teaching career. There is no question that she is, as she says, “a bubbly, social, happy personality.” I found her to be a nice young woman who struggled with her first year of teaching. Yes, our children and families are challenged in many ways, but as teachers, we are called to look at the good and “do what we can while we have the children in our care.” The challenges we face bring us the joy of teaching when we see ourselves making a difference. It takes a special kind of teacher to love and succeed in schools that are often called challenging. I love what I do, our community, and never hesitate to do whatever it takes to make a difference. That is what all the teachers here do…and we do it because we choose to be here and to live our lives making a difference. As for the lack of help and support….there is nothing to say to that but it is not true from this vantage point. As the writer above said, this young woman was handed plans, activities, teams to work with, mentors and district level support. What more could be offered, I don't know. I truly wish Brandy well, and hope that she continues to enjoy what she does. I believe early childhood education is the key to school success and I hold the highest regard for early education teachers. To close, all I can say is that my perspective and that of many others who experienced the year Brandy is referring to is very different. She did have a huge amount of help and support. I guess we were just not the right fit for this young lady. I wish you well and hope that as you reflect back on this time to which you refer, you will recall some of the willing people and help that was daily offered to you.

]]> http://www.quarterlifemag.com/2009/12/brandy-weberb-a-teacher-with-persistence/comment-page-1/#comment-158 Disappointed Thu, 14 Jan 2010 07:45:57 +0000 http://www.quarterlifemag.com/?p=1714#comment-158 I worked with her at the school she is claiming didn't help her. It's one of the most inviting schools in our district with some amazing teachers. She had multiple teachers in her classroom trying to help her. She was handed lesson plans and worksheets and given specific ideas on how to work with individual students. I think it's wrong to say otherwise. Many people watched from the outside and it is not accurate to say "There were many teachers unwilling to help"... every teacher wanted her to succeed. I worked with her at the school she is claiming didn't help her. It's one of the most inviting schools in our district with some amazing teachers. She had multiple teachers in her classroom trying to help her. She was handed lesson plans and worksheets and given specific ideas on how to work with individual students. I think it's wrong to say otherwise. Many people watched from the outside and it is not accurate to say “There were many teachers unwilling to help”… every teacher wanted her to succeed.

]]>