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August 03, 2004
It's a Calling
Maysville Elementary School hosted the opening session of the 2004-2005 school year in Jones County, North Carolina. It was nice to see old faces and see the new young teachers with their high expectations and eagerness to begin. We were treated to a menu of workshop sessions of our choice and many excellent speakers.
I think the highlight of the session was the opening day speaker Kimberly P. Johnson. Children’s author, inspirational speaker, and humorist, Kim reminded us why we went into the teaching field in the first place. She explained how her calling was lost at first as she went into journalism and found herself among the negativities of society. When she became drained out with that she decided to become an airline hostess. She told the funny story of being trapped at 30,000 feet with all those journalist and their negative stories so once again began looking for another career. And my, aren’t we glad she chose teaching.
Kimberly has written several children’s books and teaches workshops on writing. Her humor, understanding of children, and what it is like being in a classroom makes her insights and experience extremely valuable but practical as well. She reminded us not to take ourselves too seriously and to appreciate the lessons children can teach us. Her passion for teaching was contagious and helped renew the somewhat seasoned teachers and encourage the new ones.
Teaching truly is a calling and if you are called, then it is a fire that can’t be put out. Embrace it everyday with the passion that made you chose it. Have a great year!
Posted by nancy at August 3, 2004 11:19 PM
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