I’ll never forget the wave of certainty that washed over me in an urban classroom, packed wall to wall with eighth graders, on September 16, 2008. That was it. I knew I was a teacher. From that first day of student teaching, I felt a joy that motivated me—the joy of hearing students read their writing in their own voices, of seeing them debate and uphold new ideas. I witnessed, with captivation, emerging power in my students to impact their communities and become incredible scholars.

Since then, I’ve learned thousands of things about effective practices, classroom management, curriculum design, and assessment. I’ve changed to respond to different schools, students, and initiatives. Looking to the future, I know my career will be an evolution. But even after all the changes, the joy stays consistent. That unchanging aspect of teaching is the thread holding the shifting world of my career together.

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