20 Years

I think about Elijah, about how he went from being a cute kid sitting on his mom's lap during open house to delivering a speech to hundreds of people at Parent Pride Night. He had the poise to throw in a "Go Hokies," too.

I think of my invitation to his younger sister's birthday party, of the good time I had there, of the relationship that I have developed with his family.

I think of the text his mom sent me a couple of days ago. She wrote, "I just appreciated your structure, dedication, and communication. Elijah's life was changed by you. His love for reading was planted by you. Thanks."

I think about Destiny. I think about her coming into kindergarten knowing none of her colors and few of her letters. I think about us struggling through these colors and letters, through sounds, through heart words. I remember hitting wall after wall.

"What matters most is how well you walk through the fire." - Charles Bukowski

Destiny walked through the fire with enough grit for both of us. She never gave up. Now, Destiny is 17 days away from entering the first grade. Unlike last year, she is entering her grade with the tools for her to hit the ground running.

I think about how to draw strength from my kids' strength.

“One day, in retrospect, the years of struggle will strike you as the most beautiful.”

- Sigmund Freud

There are 17 days until the start of summer school. There are 17 days until I’m stepping back into the classroom as a second year teacher instead of a first year. As I look toward the future, I reflect on the past.

I think about Ryan, David, and Nicholas. I think about how hard they pushed me. I remember Ryan's complete and utter defiance throughout the first half of school. I remember David apparent inability to sit criss-cross cub-paws on the carpet. I remember driving 30 minutes away to pick Nicholas up and take him home after his bus suspensions.

I think about how muh energy I put into getting these kids on my team. I think about Ryan coming to school and telling me that when he was at home, he missed me so much that his body hurt. I think about the day when kids came to school as someone for whom they were thankful. David came dressed as Mr. Brock. I think about Nicholas telling me that he was excited to come to school during the summer to grow his brain.

I think about our data. I think about how my kids made an average of 1.58 year's growth in reading and 1.87 year's growth in math. I think about how this isn't enough because not all of my kids are on the track that leads them to the college of their choice yet. I think about how hungry I am to make this happen in not only my class, but also in my teammates' classes this year.

I think about the last week that I spent in Houston, along thousands of other people who are deeply invested in and committed to the work we're doing. I think about the 20 years KIPP has been making and keeping promises to kids. Then I think about the close to 60,000 KIPPsters across the country.

That's 60,000 lives full of opportunity that we are helping to create.

I think about the year 2026 when I will return to our peanut field to watch my Hokie Cubs complete their high school education and commence their journey to and through college.

I think about next year, where I will work alongside the Pride of 2027. I think about Zaire and Dwayne, Makiyah and Leilani, Mar'Quez and Myauna, and so many more.

I think about the great privilege that we have as educators. We have the opportunity to fight alongside our kids to make sure they have the education they deserve. We have the opportunity to show them they have value and talent before anyone in the world has a chance to say otherwise. We have the opportunity to stand with our kids as they prove to the world what's possible.

Pride of 2027, I'm excited and honored to start this journey with you.