i asked too many questions and expected too much from the school and the students...
i thought the school was dedicated to a vision of education that was progressive, and quickly found out it was a failing school for a reason.
i felt out of place...and definitely feel like i failed some of those students. but i did succeed and make a difference with many students - and thus consider myself a success.
at times i felt like i was teaching college prep material to kids who could barely read...but i had to expose them and push them...i had to make them uncomfortable. i had to "teach high school material in a 5th grade way" according to my principal...how does one do that? i did not exactly know how - but i was willing and able to try.
i would not have stayed in that school for long by choice - i felt i was being ripped off and could not let myself stay in a situation like that for long. it was about the kids when i was there - some students thought i was a lame because i advocated education and hard-work - and others appreciated my kind nature and valued the lessons in some way at some point. i stole techniques and methods i learned from my greatest teachers.
i felt like a 1 man army. i had no support from the top - no aids - no IEPS - i even barely had materials for my classroom, with books from the 1980's that i had to be pair with lessons from the internet.
but all i care about - is that i learned so much from the experience. now i can say i have worked in the worst charter school in the nation - which is a nice part of my resume.