Blank Bulletin Board

Friday June 3, 2010

was my last official day as a teacher at Jones Elementary School.

It was very bittersweet.

I felt like I spent the whole week saying goodbye. Packing up my classroom and cleaning things out. Some of my students did not show up the last day of school. I never even got to say goodbye.

I am sure they will be fine. It is probably just me that needed the closure.

That morning I stood in my empty classroom looked at the blank bulletin board and just cried.

I thought so many things in those twenty minutes.

Did I really do all that I could for those kids? Will they remember the things I taught them about being kind and loving people. Will the next teacher love them as much as I tried to love them. Will this room keep growing happy memories? Should I be staying? I am running away or just moving on? Will the kids I work with next need me as much as these did? Will I ever see them again? Will I ever find out if they made it? Did I make a difference at all?

And then I didn't know what else to do.... I just prayed. I prayed that the room would continue to be a safe place for students. That God would be known in that room. That the next teacher would find strength and be encouraged. I prayed so many things.

Then... I felt a peace. I knew that my time was over there. That God has those kids in his hands. I did what I was suppose to do in that season. The fear of the unknown could not stop me.

Jones Elementary will forever be a part of me. The people I worked with are such beautiful people. I learned so much there. I will miss my Jones family and students so much.