Guest blogger Lily Nienstedt is in her third year teaching 7th grade science at T.T. Knight Middle School where she also leads a team of three Teach Kentucky teachers. She grew up in Germany and attended high school in Abu Dhabi before majoring in Chemistry at Williams College and moving to the great foreign land of Kentucky.
I asked my students what I should write about for this post, and they told me to “write about why we’re the best.” Mind you, an exhaustive list of all my students and their individual achievements would be thrilling (one of them has recently learned how to fart on command), but I thought instead I could just use this space to list the top five reasons why I think anyone should drop everything and become a middle school teacher.
You will never, ever be bored
If you’re indecisive like me and choosing a pizza topping feels like way too much commitment, then this is the perfect job for you. You don’t have to just commit to being a teacher. You will be a zoologist, a nurse, a social media consultant, a relationship counselor, a judge and a copy machine repairman – to name a few. Somewhere in between, you will also teach food webs, narrative structures or fractions. If nothing else, you will have great stories to tell. Which leads me to my second point…
You will be very popular at parties
I bet nobody gets instant street cred when they tell someone “I am an accountant.” But tell someone you teach 7th grade and you automatically become a hero in the eyes of everyone at your Aunt’s dinner party. You might as well be James Bond on a secret mission to save the Commonwealth by preventing a kid from super gluing their hand to a SmartBoard.
Your pop culture knowledge will be lit
You knew about the “Mannequin Challenge” before Hillary Clinton’s campaign team did it? You probably teach Middle School. The number 21 gives you nightmares? You probably teach Middle School. Trust me, this knowledge will come in handy. At the very least you will never embarrass yourself by using the extremely passe phrase “on fleek”.
You will always reach your Fitbit goal
Between trying every copy machine in the building, walking your students to every class, helping serve breakfast, and moving around the classroom, 10,000 steps a day are virtually guaranteed. No need to keep splurging on that gym membership!
You will make a difference
We’ve all heard it before – great teachers can affect earning potential, inspire lifelong learning, and will be indirectly responsible for the development of flying cars and talking whales… But great teachers really do make a difference. You will create a classroom that is structured and safe for students whose lives might otherwise never feel structured or safe. You will be an advocate for a child who may not have ever had anyone advocate for them. The truth is that on many days, it will seem like the only thing that was taught in your classroom was patience and humility (and to clarify, in such cases, you are the student). You will ask yourself, “Why am I doing this?” and you will fight to find an answer that justifies the heartache and hard work that comes with teaching.
But at the end of the year, as you hug crying children and send them off into summer break, you will find your answer – but not in a grandiose statement of how the world is a different place because you chose teaching as your profession. No, the privilege of teaching is in choosing to put students first every single day. That is how teachers care for their students, and that is how you will make a difference.
5 Comments
Leave a Reply
Rowan Claypool Honored as One of Louisville’s Most Admired CEOs
Rowan Claypool Honored as One of Louisville’s Most Admired CEOs Teach Kentucky is thrilled to celebrate its founder and president, Rowan Claypool, who has been recognized as one of Louisville’s Most Admired CEOs by Louisville Business First. This recognition shines a spotlight on Rowan’s transformative leadership and his unwavering commitment to improving education in Louisville. […]
Less Than a Month Until Teach Kentucky’s First Recruitment Weekend of the Season!
We’re excited to announce that we’re just a few short weeks away from the first Recruitment Weekend of the season on December 7-9, and this year’s recruitment campaign is already off to an incredible start! We’ve received hundreds of applications from bright, passionate aspiring teachers who are eager to visit Louisville and imagine making our […]
Celebrating Isabel Lake’s Journey: From Teacher to Assistant Principal
Celebrating Isabel Lake’s Journey: From Teacher to Assistant Principal At Teach Kentucky, we take immense pride in the growth and success of our educators. Today, we’re thrilled to share another inspiring milestone in the career of one of our own – Isabel Lake. Over a Decade of Dedication Isabel Lake has been an integral part […]
Meet Hannah Lipman: A Success Story with Teach Kentucky
Discovering a Passion for Education Hannah Lipman’s journey to becoming a dedicated educator is nothing short of inspiring. Initially considering a career in healthcare, Hannah’s passion for education, especially in English, blossomed during her undergraduate years, leading her to switch her major to English and Gender & Women’s Studies. Her dedication and commitment to the […]
Celebrating the Teach Kentucky 2022 Cohort Graduation
On Sunday, May 19th, Teach Kentucky staff and board members hosted a heartwarming celebration to honor the graduation of the 2022 Cohort. These dedicated individuals commenced their teaching careers with Teach Kentucky in the summer of 2022, embarking on a transformative journey as they entered into a Master of Arts in Teaching program at one […]
March Recruitment Weekend Recap
The March Recruitment weekend for Teach Kentucky came to a close with a successful and inspiring event. This event welcomed 10 candidates from local and national backgrounds, representing various colleges such as Sarah Lawrence, Bellarmine University, Colorado College, Valparaiso College, Ohio State University, Louisiana Tech, University of Louisville, and University of Mississippi. The new teacher […]
January Recruitment Weekend Roundup
Teach Kentucky recently concluded its January recruiting weekend, hosting a diverse group of 13 candidates with aspirations to become educators in various fields. The event was a great success, bringing together candidates from both local universities and those from out of state. Candidate Overview Geographic Diversity: The 13 candidates included 9 local participants and 4 […]
Introducing Teach Kentucky’s Mid-Year Start Teachers: A New Wave of Educators
When we think about Back to School time, August and September usually come to mind. However, Teach Kentucky is proud to announce a remarkable group of new teachers who will be embarking on their education careers in the middle of the academic year. We extend a warm welcome to Branden McMichael, Kristen Miller, Danielle Moreau, […]
Teach Kentucky’s First Recruiting Weekend for 2024: A Gateway to a Rewarding Teaching Career in Louisville
Teach Kentucky (TKY) recently concluded its first recruiting weekend for 2024, held from December 2-4, 2023. This event served as a platform for TKY to welcome a small yet exceptional group of eight candidates. These candidates, hailing from Kentucky, Georgia, North Carolina, and Michigan, had the opportunity to interact with TKY staff, current teachers, and […]
Teach Kentucky Offered A Perfect Chance for a Career
Teaching is becoming a profession more and more individuals seek as a second (or third) act in their lives, and this has many benefits for students. Teachers who are beyond their early twenties have more life and professional experiences under their belts; they’ve worked in one or more fields of industry and bring their professional […]
Lily has this teaching thing and working with at-risk kids figured out! Proud to be a Team Lily supporter!
You are SO RIGHT!! I also teach middle school science in Louisville, and I love it.
Lily, I am so proud to be related to you. I hope to see you some time. God bless you. Aunt June
Lily, I am so proud to be related to you. I too was a teacher, but my students were adults, and I loved it too. God bless you. Love, Aunt June
“You will create a classroom that is structured and safe for students whose lives might otherwise never feel structured or safe” Yes!!