Peace out, Wilson! :(

Well, it's been real Wilson High School. After 5 years of teaching I am leaving and moving on to Utah. I haven't cried about it yet, but I know it will come. This place gave me a job out of BYU in the middle of a school year. I have had so many hard experiences at this school with students, coworkers, parents, and administrators. Many days I wanted to teach somewhere else--at a school where kids were more respectful and desired to learn. Instead, I ended up here where apathy runs rampant and kids swear at you in the hallways when you tell them to get to class. But there's no doubt in my mind that it was meant to be. Teaching in the inner-city has given me some thick skin...and provided many funny stories!

Here it is in the flesh.

Oh those doors. How many times have I walked through you on good days and bad?

The atrium of the school. It's legit, right? So nice. The classroom on the lowest level, on the right side, closest to the stairwell was mine this year. Does that make sense to anyone out there?

My empty classroom. My desk, promethean board and everything in between!

My social studies department.We are actually missing 3 peeps too (Stephanie, Matt, Heckler). From left to right: Julie, Michelle, Julie, Mark, me, Garbus, Ashley, Jim, Jennifer, Jon, Aimee. Below; Sylvia, Rob, and Kristin. I will miss ya'll!

My principal, Mr. Cahall. He has seen me since the beginning and has always believed in me as an educator.

Molly and I. We taught this English/US History cohort this year with Juniors. It was great to have someone to collaborate with and to align curriculum with!

Julie. Totally different backgrounds, values, and interests, but we became friends and respected and loved each other despite some major differences in life style. A true example of what life is all about. I will miss her and her crazy antics!

Kristin, Aimee, Cahall, me. We are all leaving Wilson this year and are moving on to the next adventure!

It's so strange to say goodbye to a place where I have grown tremendously as an educator and individual. No words can describe my gratitude for working at this inner-city school and being around a lot of amazing teachers and students. Although the job had many difficulties attached to it, I am forever grateful that this school has supported me throughout the years.

As happy as I am to move on and to do something different I am also extraordinarily sad. So I say "Peace Out!" with many reservations.

Wilson, I will miss you. Thank you for a hard, crazy, never-a-dull-moment, joyful, fun, and character-building 5 years!