You're one in a million. You're also one of 3 million.
![What It Means to Be a Teacher Like YouOne year. 37 states. More than 200 teachers. Thousands of students — and countless inspiring voices.
[[MORE]]It’s been one year since the start of A Teacher Like You — and since those first days, we’ve met more...](https://64.media.tumblr.com/3e40af1d90a9c94fba5d145929491cb1/tumblr_o5828iI4FX1un3r89o1_500.jpg)
What It Means to Be a Teacher Like You
One year. 37 states. More than 200 teachers. Thousands of students — and countless inspiring voices.
Jorge Cuascut: Intelligence Isn’t Always a Suit and Tie
Maybe I look strange to them — I have a beard, nose rings, tattoos and sometimes, I paint my fingernails black. But they see intelligence that looks different. Intelligence doesn’t mean a suit and tie; it means having a conversation.
![Lauren Brown: Through New EyesYou have to come in and be totally prepared, and then be prepared for not being prepared. It’s really about finding the energy to show up and focus on the kids.
[[MORE]]New kid on the block.
“My story isn’t long yet...](https://64.media.tumblr.com/fbfb41dcaf4ee39576ef5e24223b2297/tumblr_o2d0neoIuB1un3r89o1_r1_500.jpg)
Lauren Brown: Through New Eyes
You have to come in and be totally prepared, and then be prepared for not being prepared. It’s really about finding the energy to show up and focus on the kids.
![Kyle Phillips: Without Teachers, What Hope Do We Have? We are a democracy, and we need an educated population. Teachers are the starting point — we’re the ones trusted to make that happen.
[[MORE]]A lucky first step.
“I got into teaching knowing that...](https://64.media.tumblr.com/32541f811e35ea1500fa23fed0d39f6b/tumblr_nzsrkkn4oo1un3r89o1_r1_500.jpg)
Kyle Phillips: Without Teachers, What Hope Do We Have?
We are a democracy, and we need an educated population. Teachers are the starting point — we’re the ones trusted to make that happen.
![Annette Naranjo: From Kindergarten to Who They Really AreWhen people ask me why I teach, I say, ‘I do it for the outcome, not the income.’
[[MORE]]What teaching means today.
“My mom always knew teaching was in the cards for me. She recently found a...](https://64.media.tumblr.com/714c9ca7e8cb61a9356cfb96de34cbfd/tumblr_nzdgigPZuq1un3r89o1_500.jpg)
Annette Naranjo: From Kindergarten to Who They Really Are
When people ask me why I teach, I say, ‘I do it for the outcome, not the income.’
Robin Rivers: Getting Back Up
We get so caught up in testing that we’re forgetting to nurture kids. We forget that school isn’t just a place to learn, but a place to grow and become a person. That person in charge of that classroom, who kids are looking up to, needs to be a nurturer and a caregiver, a counselor and a relationship guru. This person is everything to these kids, because they may never have had someone like that in their lives.
Jamie Chenault: Seeing Every Face in the Room
Even though they’re fourth graders, I make sure to hug each one of them every day, coming in and going out. Telling them, ‘I’m so happy you’re here today, and I can’t wait to see you tomorrow,’ gives them a reason to want to come back.
![August “Sandy” Merz: The Good Still RemainsWhen I think about teaching, I go to these words: ‘Teaching is the career that makes all the other careers possible.’ People say that we make a difference, because we do.
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Falling into a...](https://64.media.tumblr.com/03a713c84ef0a22c4ca36a305a32a17a/tumblr_nx9kkqgYjL1un3r89o1_r2_500.jpg)
August “Sandy” Merz: The Good Still Remains
When I think about teaching, I go to these words: ‘Teaching is the career that makes all the other careers possible.’ People say that we make a difference, because we do.
Sarah Rich: Finding the Right Pieces
Having such a small amount of confidence and not having teachers who truly, genuinely believe in you can really interfere with your education. Students have to have life lessons to help them survive in the world.
Ellie Gilbert: You Are Worth Something
People said to me, ‘Why do you want to be a teacher? You’re so smart.’ It’s shocking, because it reveals the truth behind what our culture believes about teaching. And really, nothing could be further from the truth.