Teacher Truth

My Devastating Start That Almost Turned into a Finish

December of 1985. My college graduation was a very few weeks away.  The nomadic ways forged during my Army BRAT years had led me through three different colleges, various majors and finally finding a home in the early childhood education classroom. 

     I was called into a meeting with my college academic advisor, I had thought, for her to congratulate me on my recent acceptance to a long term substitute position post graduation.  There would be no happiness in this meeting.  I always got the feeling that she did not like me.  There was just something about her tone of voice; strained, forced, never encouraging.  She would not prove me wrong that day.

     “I regret to tell you that you are one class short of graduation.  I don’t know how you snuck through but you still owe me a three credit Physics class.”

     “But, you already signed off on my graduation requirements!  I have a job lined up as a long-term sub with the 1st grade team that  I did my elementary student teaching requirement!”

      I was panicking, sweating, attempting to advocate for myself while remaining professional.  I was riding a thin line, driving my fingernails into my palm to fight back the impending tears.

     “Well Missy, I guess you’re just going to have to change your plans”.

     Her words slapped me hard.  I stood on the other side of her desk, my tears of anger, astonishment and fear all ready to pour down my cheeks, but I would not give her the satisfaction of seeing that she had done that to me.  She waved her hand in the air to shoo me out of her office.

     I began to turn to leave and then felt the McKnight rise up in me.  This was the unwavering fact that I might look like you can walk all over me, but you are sadly mistaken.  “I will graduate.  You signed off on my requirements and I have that signed paper. You made the mistake not me.  I should not have to pay for your error.”  Bold words for someone fighting a dual bodily response of projectile vomiting and tears.  Oh, but she would get in the last word and it slapped me silly.

     “I don’t think you have what it takes to make it in teaching anyway, Missy”.

     After a sob fest to the point of exhaustion in my apartment shower, I called Mom and Dad.  They were and always had been, my home base.  Was the error my fault?  Was it Dr. Dismissal’s fault? What was I going to do?

     “Mare,” Dad started with confidence, “You need to call Frank.  He will know what to do”.  “Now, get off the phone and take care of it. You’ll be okay”.

    I was glad he was sure of this, because I was not.  Frank was my student teaching mentor and the Pied Piper of all things wonderful in education.  He called me “Maria”.  “Maria, Dr. Dismissal has had it out for you since the beginning.  Who knows why?  Bad childhood?  Bad karma?  No one knows.  Here’s the thing, you need to go to The Maryland State Board of Education to get this overturned.  Bring the signed paper.  I’ll make a call.”

     One trip to Annapolis to the MSDE office later with Graduation Approval Letter, transcripts, signed letter from my upcoming long-term sub job and I was approved for my Dec. 1985 graduation.  Now it was up to me to prove Dr. Dismissal wrong.  It was up to me to show up every day for my students, sweat evenings and weekends planning and preparing, all in pursuit of the highest quality of teaching for my students and I would spend the next 30 years doing so.

Your turn: Tell me about a time, when someone doubted you/held the control and how you triumphed. We could all use a dose of inspiration. Write away!