Somedays I feel like the best mom and teacher, and others...I feel like the just "okayest" at both. Parent and students, give yourself the grace to learn there is more than one way to do something. There's always room for improvement and growth. I have three of my own children at home, and they all have very different personalities and learning styles. When I first became a mom, I thought I would be sooo good at it. Wrong! My own kids keep me guessing every day. We are not magicians. We teachers are regular people too. We do the daily dance of trying to keep everyone happy and healthy with a balance of discipline, fun, and patience. Thank you for all you have tirelessly done for your children during the pandemic. I am very proud of how resilient the kids are and what they learned among all the chaos!
Growing up, I always wanted to be a teacher. I vividly remember sitting in literature class, watching my 7th grade teacher and wishing I could be just like her. Mrs. Asquith started my love for reading. My other source of inspiration was my father, the man, the myth the legend, Neil Lusas. He worked at MSMS as a teacher and administrator for over 40 years. Some of you maybe even had him as a teacher. Do you fee old now? I feel old.
I love kids! I have 3 of my own. Families parties, I am the aunt that is in the middle of the group, doing piggy backs, coordinating games, helping keep the kids in line....yet also and making them a little too loud.
The first spring of the pandemic when I was at home with my husband and kids, going months without seeing my students and my own nieces and nephews (that live in the same town were the most difficult months of my life). I remember the first time in the backyard when my kids were playing with their cousins after being a part for so long. In that moment with the sounds of their laughter in the air, I realized that the sound of kids playing and laughing is the best sound in the world. This is also true when my middle school kids learn and laugh together in the classroom.
The start of the 2022 school year already feels and look much more normal. I am both relived and excited that middle school students are in a full classroom, can travel to specials all over the building, have lockers, and go to the cafe as a full grade! Please, please stay positive with how you talk about teachers and schools in front of your children. The only way the show works is if we have trust in each other.
As students, parents, teachers, citizens... We are all balancing a lot of worries with this new way of living and learning. The only way to go now is forward from the pandemic, and help the kids recover as many skills we can.
Let's hope that we can fill in the gaps and and experience education as it is meant to be one day again. I feel like instead of going "back to school" we are going forward. After surviving the last two years as an educator and parent...I know we can handle any obstacles that come our way with grace, understanding, and humor.
~Mrs. Hewitt