Recognize my value as I walk past you.
Each morning moving towards my class
We cross paths like a silent movie venue.
Me, eyes closed with smile like breaking glass.
Afraid to engage you for fear of ridicule,
Always watching over my lonely shoulder
Wishing people might see me less a fool
More genuine; realizing everyone there
Is deserving of your attention, your model
Of direction, of delight, of dignified character.
Some sort of guarantee that you’re, that, well
Person whom we can rely upon to be where
We need your support, not simply in a room
With desks and posters, and mantras that inspire
Us to learn and grasp the standard you groom.
But also to walk with us and know we will aspire
To greater dreams than the droll of fearful walkways,
To prove our lives are important too in so many ways.
I'm a teacher, again 
I am in the middle of writing a book about this very topic with Jack Berckemeyer and Judith Baenen. This is a very timely poem for me!! Thank you.
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Wonderful Debbie, thanks. I cleaned it up a bit. I’m going to send you an email in the next day or two.
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I really got this. Teaching is like every profession. Some are just in it to put bread on the table but for others it’s a calling and these kind if teachers can really change life’s
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Thanks, I’m glad you liked it. I’m not calling out teachers as much as just soft reminders of why we joined such a wonderful profession.
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My sisters a teacher shes a good one as far as I can tell. I just know in every profession is there is good and can’t be bothered lol
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I agree, a colleague and I were just discussing that last night. 🙂
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