20 Years In

Dear colleague,

Tomorrow begins the 20th year of my teaching career, and as of this moment's rosters (sure to change still), I’ve got 153 human beings that I’ll be getting to know in the weeks to come. (One of them, it turns out, is the child of a former student. I knew the day was coming where a parent at orientation would have that “Wait, didn't I teach you?” familiarity to them, but I did not expect it to be this year.)

As I steel my introverted self for the serious labor of getting to know my students, I think of all the folks who helped me to be the teacher I am today.

• I think of Mrs. Donna VonderHoff, who taught me computer science in high school. (I'm teaching an AP Computer Science Principles course this year and am truly terrified 🤣.)
• I think of my mom, who gave me feedback on my high school English essays before I turned them in, and what a privilege it is to get to do some of that for students each year.
• I think of Jim Burke, such a mentor and friend, whose life as a classroom teacher/author continues to inspire and encourage me.
• I think of Malcolm X, whose autobiography shifted something inside of me over 20 years ago in my college dormitory as I witnessed how an education transformed a mind and, thereby, a life.
• I think of my colleagues here at Cedar Springs High School, who absolutely spurred me on to becoming better each year, just by them being them.
• I think of my grandfather, who taught me to be lazy in a manner befitting wisdom.

20 years in, heading into a school year still feels daunting. It's that whole, “Wait, do I actually know how to do this?” thing. And so it’s good for me to take a minute to settle my mind and heart on the folks who’ve brought me to this moment. If it were all up to me — just Dave Stuart, all by himself — I'd be doomed.

But it’s not. The teacher my students will meet tomorrow is, in fact, propped up by a massive conspiracy of people who have worked together to make me the guy for the job.

Teaching right beside you,

DSJR