My Call to Urban Education

Nearly 40 percent of Chicago Public School students drop out according to recent studies. That's one teen every 26 seconds. The ramifications of this ain’t no joke! So where do I reside in this equation? Right in the middle of it. It is without question that I am officially called to Urban Education.I spent my first three years tucked away in a gang-ridden territory where the Kings would spar off with the D’s and 2-6 on a daily! I had to quickly run up the stairs to get to my classroom so as to avoid any random scuffles. My turf was Little Village with a charter under a network that supported the dropouts of CPS by the name of Latino Youth High School. It was the most sweetest, most powerful, yet the most toughest, electric, staggering, overwhelming, gut-wrenching, do-or-die, go hard or go home 3 years of my life. Many know my story.I had officially been broken into an area of education, that if I’m honest, I tried to run from. I tried everything. I tried to get an online gig, applied to different schools less traumatic, and nothing. It was like I was supposed to be there, couldn’t resign, and needed to stay the course. Don’t get me wrong, I had great moments and I eventually found my groove. I learned about human suffering in a way I had never experienced. It was there where my desire to defend the underdog, the labeled, and the forgotten was born. It was electrifying, Mrs. G. was born; there she was grappling with the young minds of some of the toughest gang members and kids in and out of jail since they were old enough to be put in Juvy! Young moms and students with high needs, intermixed with students who were your average student and even advanced, yet fell off the motivation and academic bandwagon. Hardly any books, money, or resources, and definitely no pay that would dignify me…I journeyed with my kids, my students, who would later define who I was as an educator. In retrospect, I’m eternally grateful for this process. These kids are not what you think, what I even thought. They are passionate, powerful, leaders on the inside, survivors, honest, and then some. Summer of 2012 rolled around and I land a new gig at ACE Technical Charter school near Back of the Yards and West Englewood. Over 90% of my students are low-income, predominately African American and Latino population. Out of 13 other applicants, they picked me and another new colleague of mine. I don’t take that lightly; what a charge, the stakes are high. Just finished my first week….and it was a lot! From the professional development meetings, to arranging my new classroom, to jumping into new curriculum, to batting off serious jitters, to nursing my busted back that is infested with muscle spasms as a back lash from chronic stress and PTSD from last school year…my walk continues deeper in Urban Education.I had an epiphany this week. It’s official. It’s real. It’s for certain. I’m called to this. It’s one of the reasons why I was created. I was born to do this. Mrs. G.’s keeping on…can’t stop, won’t stop! I will no longer try to run when it gets hard. I will no longer try to disconnect within myself and complain and gripe and wave my fists at a Sovereign God. It’s clear now this is where I belong.I have a big assignment in the days ahead. I meet my new batch of students in a few days that will continue to redefine who I am as an educator, activist, and human being. I expect to be taught just as much as I teach. My new classes: Freshman Literature & Sr. Journalism. Some days I need to pinch myself as I say, “I can’t believe I’m a teacher.”The Jonah in me is being stripped off daily. No longer will I run from Ninevah, I’m actually running towards it. I’m not saying I’ll no longer struggle, I’m simply saying I’m in full awareness that regardless, this is where I need to be. And what an opportunity to be both coach and teacher, as my new principal states. He also told us this week, “Be ready to be part of the solution.” I took it to heart. Almost saluted him in our staff meeting. I refrained.So, here I go….Mrs. G., English teacher for ACE Tech in Room 104. Let’s roll, let’s try, let’s succeed, let’s fail, let’s risk, let’s teach, let’s advance, let’s stand still, let’s assess, let’s keep it real, keep it 100, speak your truth. I’m not ready, but I am. I know who I am and whose I am. Yet, I humbly submit to the ideal that I have so much more to go and to grow. Matter of fact, I’ve just begun. Hence, let the year begin. Year 4: Let’s do this! Ready or not, here I come. Author R. Marshall from his book Thoughts & Lamentations of Urban Education states, “Urban Education “ain’t no joke!” You have been warned.” And I could not agree with him more.