Honestly, I Want To See You Be Brave. #redfored

I wouldn't say that the people closest to me understand why I am so involved in the red for ed movement. There have been some super nasty things said on the internet. Things like "The teachers are screwing my kids over." "Effing teachers Go. Back. To. Work." "Teachers are Greedy." "I don't have time for this I need a babysitter for my kids." To these words I sing these lyrics by Sarah Barielles in my head. We listened to this song on our way to the capitol Friday where I brought my children. I wanted them to see first hand what this was all about. I think they will mostly remember that it was excruciatingly hot. 

Everybody’s been there, everybody’s been stared down

By the enemy
Fallen for the fear and done some disappearing
Bow down to the mighty
Don’t run, stop holding your tongue
Maybe there’s a way out of the cage where you live
Maybe one of these days you can let the light in
Show me how big your brave is

I will also say the support and love has been astounding as I have been in the public and talking to people about WHY teachers are walking out. When the facts are presented I don't think anyone can question their validity. The bottom line is Arizona schools are sorely underfunded. Here are a few personal examples:

I have a guinea pig in my classroom as a class pet. Why? If you think because he is cute guess again, when you are scooping out piles of guinea pig poop he becomes less cute. Trust me. 

Sandy Hook. He is my answer to Sandy Hook.

The funding for children to get the help they need due to (in my humble opinion) the break down of the family is zilch. There are no counseling groups to help kids with grief, or social troubles, or anxiety, or the myriad of problems children face today. Enter Steve, the guinea pig. When I had a student who had a brother only a couple years older than her fighting cancer, she held Steve whenever she needed to. When I had a student so anxious about coming to school each morning, he held Steve as a reward for coming to school willingly. When I had a student whose Mother unexpectedly lost her newborn baby due to complications, my student held Steve. I'm not a school counselor, I don't have those skills but my answer to the problems of a VERY BLESSED school might I add was to bring in a class pet. They get to hold him, write him notes...sometimes he writes back and this is the best way I know how to calm the storms raging in the little hearts of children. The truth is (and my school peeps will know EXACTLY what I am talking about here....) a deep breath only gets you so far. 

Having a guinea pig is a pain and it is costly. It is $50 a month out of my own pocket, but $50 is worth it if I can ease the troubles of the students I love so dearly. It is Steve the guinea pigs counseling fee.  I literally cannot see another child or teacher hewn down by a crazy person. I can not sit idly by opening my classroom door in fear, holding children behind me to make sure the coast is clear and that what is going on is TRULY a fire drill. This is my solution, probably inadequate but I do the best I can with the tools I have. 

This is why I march. This is why I picket. This is why I share my thoughts with you. I love children. I care about building a better future. I am not skipping school to get a raise. I am being brave to help bring awareness to the HUGE school funding problem in Arizona. 

I stood in the walk in lines at the school.

I stood on Baseline Wednesday night after work, and after my volunteer coaching position that teaches young girls solutions to life and basically how to be a kind empathetic person. 

I got up early and tutored at my second job on Thursday. 

Then I marched at the capitol. 

I got up early and put together goody bags for my volunteer coach position, bags and ribbon purchased with my own money. Because I, like Governor Ducey said am in the solution business. I hope he is telling the truth. 

My kids and I headed down to the capitol. We were there until noon. 

I came home and rushed to the church where we held the banquet for our girls running team at three and volunteered setting up, decorating, serving, and coaching beautiful young girls in how to let their Star Shine! I worked and cleaned until nine PM. 

I woke up at 5:30 this morning to meet my running team at the capitol. A place I am learning how to get around pretty easily now. I ran a 5K with them. I cheered them on and held hands with them across the finish line, surrounded by coaches..six to be exact who are teachers JUST LIKE ME. Volunteering our time, our money, our care. and our skills to build the girls of Arizona's future. 

I came home to fall onto my bed and sleep because sleep hasn't come easy these last few days. 

I have worried about my students. 

To the mean complainers I ask, What did YOU do this week to make Arizona's future better? Besides be mean and complain. 

I am not afraid to stand up for what I believe is right and if you know me, you know that I have a pretty good track record when it comes to making good decisions. Thoughtful, responsible, decisions. So I ask you to trust me. I ask you to educate yourself on the issues. I ask you to not debate me about them, as I am tired fighting for children who can not speak up for themselves and should not have to.

 I believe in second chances and I am hopeful that our Legislature and Governor will do the right thing as they haven't always in the past. BUT, our voices have not been this loud in the past either so let us give them a chance for change. Good, true, real, sustainable, honest change for Arizona's children. Maybe they didn't realize we all care as much as we do. We do care. 

XOXO- I ask you instead of complaining to educate yourself. Read up, form a real opinion and look at both sides. At least then I can respect you.----The Sunny D

The Bridge

This is my bridge. 

It has held me up on walks that were laced with fickle fingered lies. 

It has stood tall and strong as I passed through rain drenched walkways.

I have stood on this bridge in dreams. 

I have crossed this bridge hundreds of times. 

I stand on the bridge and watch the cars race by and I think. I breathe. I stand still. I listen to books or music or talks or nothing. 

I wonder where all the people are going, what are they thinking? 

The past dances past my minds eye,

The present taking a pulse of my beating heart, 

The future full of questions. 

But the bridge will be here. I really like my bridge. 

Tonight I walked home from the bridge. The warmth of the setting sun on my face. The breeze gentle on my skin. I thought of President Nelsons talk from conference. There was a piece that struck a chord with me. He talked about when his wife died and that he felt he would never love or be happy again. He talked about Christ's resurrection and how it gave him hope that love could be resurrected again. I'm pretty sure he said it way better than I am. I have often wondered the same thing. Can love be resurrected again? Even for me? Is that possible? Can I get out of the way? 

I also thought about the looming walk out this week in education. I will say this as a committed educator walking out is the last thing I want to do. I don't think any of us would be doing this if it was not a last resort. I have high hope in our government and educators coming together peacefully for a resolution. I hope it happens soon. What I hope everyone knows about this is that it is not about a raise only. Does Arizona have a dismal pay scale for teachers? Yes. However, worse is what has happened in the funding of classrooms. 1.1 Billion dollars have been cut from Arizona students each year and after ten years of it being swept under the rug enough is enough. Do I think this is the best way? Does it matter now? This is the way it has gone. I am an educator and I am standing up for education. 

And so. This week I may find myself wandering to my bridge. To think, to watch, to listen. 

XOXO- The Sunny D

It's Not Perfect

In my class we hatch baby chicks every year. It is so much fun. My kids love it when I bring them home for the weekend. 

I woke up Sunday morning and got the kids up so we could get ready for church. I was scrambling around when I looked down the staircase, from the top of the stairs you can see my couch on the bottom floor. There was Aydan half dressed with a baby chick nestled under his chin. We were running late for church but how could this little scene not melt my heart. It did, it was a perfect moment. Although he would not want you to know it, he is tender. I wanted to take a little spring picture with the chicks so he sat them on the table next to the flowers. It took a few tries to get it perfect. 

Shot number two..chick runs away and hand in the corner.

It took a few tries to get it perfect.

I feel like that is the story of my life. Why can't it just be perfect the first time around? I'm not sure. Maybe it is because I believe so strongly in the idea of trying again. Just like on the playground today a second grader yelled, "What the HE**!" Who was tattled on by another second grader who had told him he sucked. I talked to both of them we discussed what they could of said instead... Seriously, they gave me the lamest answers like, "You're team is the best." and "I wish I could play on your team." As if they would ever actually say that but I let it slide.....I told them I believed they could make better choices and challenged them to do so. However, at the next recess name calling ensued and so then did parent calling by me, loss of the next recess, and banishment from soccer for the next week. What is with this lesson of trial and error? Why can't the correct choice just be made the first time? Why are there so many consequences? 

Trial and Error

 So you try and you err. So is life. It isn't perfect and it takes a few tries. You get control of one person, you. You get to choose the choices and the consequences choose you whether you like it or not. You know I always believed good choices = good consequences and bad choices = bad consequences but in truth and through trial and error I have learned that the chips are going to just fall where the chips fall. The only perfect thing is nothing is perfect. And it is OK. Maybe. I'm not sure because the truth is everything is just supposed to work out just perfectly if you, yourself are trying so very hard to be perfect. It is absolutely exhausting. 

Finally..it is perfect. 

Not perfect. Ok with it. XOXO The Sunny D

Teachers Are Whiners #redfored

At the "Teach-In" at the State Capitol #redfored

I have been inundated with questions about what red for ed is, what is going on in education, why are teachers upset, and what does this all mean? I would like to answer a few of your questions here as I do not have time to answer everyone individually. 

How does this impact my students and your children? 

IF you are the parent of a child who attends school in Arizona, the teacher of children in Arizona, the grandparent of a child in Arizona, or affiliated with a child who attends school in Arizona this should make the hairs on the back of your neck stand at attention. 

The current budget in Arizona for school funding is operating at 1.1 BILLION dollars less than it was in 2008. Here is a handy dandy graph to illustrate my point. My jaw dropped to the floor. As a parent of children who attend school in Arizona I am bothered by this fact. Basically my children for the whole of their educational experience are getting the short end of the funding stick. THEY DESERVE BETTER. 

The red....is the deficit. 

One of the demands of the red for ed movement is to restore education funding to the 2008 levels. Oh....and that isn't all. 

Did you know that Arizona currently spends $924 LESS per student in inflation-adjusted dollars today that it did in 2008? Currently, Arizona spends 34% less per pupil than the national average. 

NOT OKAY. 

So this red for ed movement is not just for teachers it is about the students. Who is making up the difference in the budget? 

We are. Teachers. Parents. When I went to school the supply list was a pencil box, a pair of scissors, and a box of crayons. What is the school supply list you have to provide for your school? A ream of paper, pencils, markers, tissues, hand sanitizer....the list goes on and on. Right? 

These are baby chicks that our team hatches every year for our classes. Guess who buys ALL the supplies? We do. You see, I am the kind of teacher who loves to engage her students, who LOVES hands on application and this is one way we do that at Franklin at Brimhall. We teach the life cycle in an extension activity beyond the butterflies which....are also awesome. We are teachers that go the extra mile and that is the thing, most teachers are. So who buys tissues when we run out? Glue sticks? Paint? Glitter? The teachers do. Who fills the treasure box? Buys stickers? White board markers, and erasers for each student each year...we do. Teachers do. So all of this funding stuff trickles down and the cost of these things comes out of our pockets. Seriously, can you stand seeing a poor kiddo with allergy boogers running out of their nose have to use those scratchy brown school grade paper towels to wipe their noses?? I mean if you have any heart at all you will answer with a resounding NO!  The cost Kleenex adds up my friends. 

One of my second graders is not too happy with me. Give me back my crayon box! 

The red for ed movement is also asking for a 20% salary increase for Arizona teachers in order to create competitive pay with neighboring states. Also, did you know that if we get a 20 percent raise we will STILL be well below the national average which is $59,000? We will also be below all the states that surround us but it will be an improvement. Here is another handy graph for you as you can see Arizona does not have a teacher shortage. There are TONS of teachers in Arizona, they just can't afford to teach. They are getting jobs elsewhere in Arizona. Arizona has a teacher recruiting and retention problem. 

The red for ed movement is also asking for permanent certified salary structure steps which includes annual raises. When I began my career in teaching in 1999 there were steps you could climb to earn more money. You were paid for experience, qualifications, and additional schooling. There was an incentive to get a masters degree it would be worth your time and effort and something I have wanted to do for a long time personally. However, now if I were to get my masters I would get a one time $1,000 raise. Why would I go into debt for that? 

The red for ed movement is also asking for competitive pay for all Education Support Professionals. This includes teachers' aides, custodians, bus drivers, etc. Without offering competitive pay it has been difficult to recruit and retain qualified individuals in these positions. 

Last weeks art project....Why yes, I am the art teacher in my classroom.

As you can see teachers are NOT whiners. We need your help. This red for ed movement is for everyone.... children, teachers, and staff. Please sign this petition to support the Red for Ed movement. I will personally give you a big fat hug for it! Red For Ed

Schools all around the valley are having Walk In events this next week. Please attend the Walk in at Franklin at Brimhall this Wednesday from 7:45-8:15. When I have more information I will pass it along but we would love your support. 

XOXO- The Sunny D