Kendra Whitman

Growing up, the last thing I wanted to be was a teacher. I excelled at school, but observed that my teachers were overworked, underpaid, and lacked the respect that came with such an important career. I went to the University of Oklahoma with lots of optimism but little direction. After a few false starts, my advisor said “They always need teachers.” I graduated in 2012 with a B.A. in History and a certification to teach social studies. In 2014, I accepted a position as a U.S. History teacher at John Marshall High School. Being a smaller school, I have had the opportunity to teach all of the social studies courses available, from Oklahoma History to A.P. Government. Career defining events, such as budget cuts, teacher shortages, the 2018 Teacher Walkout, and the pandemic have confirmed many of the fears I had entering the profession. However, I have found inspiration to keep coming to work: my students. My students are genuine, passionate, and driven. Mostly though, they have a desire to make positive changes in their communities. 

My students face issues that are both systemic and generational. Several students over the years became the first in their family to graduate from high school. Others, particularly during this pandemic, have become the breadwinners in their households. Still more have to navigate racism, homeless, and food insecurity. With so much stacked against them, their determination to make a difference is humbling. I have made it my mission to equip my students with knowledge and tools to impact their local communities and governments. I have utilized many resources, particularly Generation Citizen, to empower my students to identify problems, create a goal, and carry out an action plan. Their projects have covered topics such as police brutality, gun violence, and teen suicide. Watching them find and use their voices, their power, has been the most rewarding part of teaching. Teaching, I am happy to say, has given me direction. I look forward to continuing to be an advocate for the teaching profession, but most importantly for my students.