“If your actions in the classroom inspire children to achieve more, question more, and dream more, you are indeed worthy of the title ‘Teacher’.”   –Robert Jeohn Meehan

The best thing about being a teacher is not having your students as students anymore.  No, I’m not saying that I did a happy dance at the end of the school year or when a student’s schedule changed and I was no longer the teacher.  I am saying that my favorite part of being a teacher is when my students have moved on to the next phase of life.  After my students graduated, many went on to college, the Armed Forces, or technical school.  Some chose to start families and joined the work force.  Regardless of their post high school choices, they are doing well.  I like that.  I like that because they are leading productive lives.  Thanks to the wonders of Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, I can keep up with them.  I see posts, Tweets, and pictures of them, and I know they are happy, doing well, and putting to use some or all of what I taught them.  Also, thanks to the wonders of living in a small town, I see them in Walmart, Kroger, or Friday night football games.  I also see their parents and get updates from them.

By the way, I did do a happy dance at the end of the school year, but it had nothing to do with not having students anymore.  It had everything to do with being able to sleep late, stay up late, and wear flip flops.