Letter to my RMS Co-workers

It has come to my attention that the cat is out of the bag. For the past two years, I successfully kept my blog a secret from all my dear friends at RMS. Why? I don't know. I guess I was afraid I was writing stuff that could get me fired...or that I would unintentionally offend someone...or that I was breaking some sort of privacy laws...

Whatever. I carefully never mentioned my name or any other teachers' full names. I always abbreviated the school and left out the district name. I thought I was airtight.

Then S "Chocolate Queen" T used her detective skillz to locate and publicize this little site. I should have known. Nothing goes on at RMS without Ms. T finding out in five seconds. I swear she's got eyes on every hall and ears in every classroom. Congratulations, Ms. T, you win again!

Since I now have co-workers reading, I wanted to take a moment to thank all of you.

First of all, I have the utmost respect for the hard work y'all do every day. It's true; people say you don't know what goes into being a teacher until you are one. I'll go a step further. It's impossible to know the extent of what teachers at RMS go through until you've worked at RMS! In the words of another colleague, "nothing can prepare you for that 10th circle of hell/cracked-out Disney World that is our school!" So true. In addition to all the hard work that goes into our profession, you take on so much more by working at a difficult school. I know our school has a reputation preceding it, but if anyone even hints at the fact that it's that way because of the teachers, they catch an EXTREMELY heated earful from me.

You see, I worked with some of the most hard-working, patient, dynamic and caring people I've known. Not only are they so gifted with our kids that the kids call them "Mama" and love them like family, they face the daily challenges our school provides and still end the day able to laugh and joke--even have enough love to carry them over to the next day.

I admire and respect all of you.

Thank you for welcoming me and including me and making me feel like family when my real family was seven hours away. I couldn't have done it without you. Thank you for being the example of what it means to be a good teacher. I came to RMS without a clue of what I was getting myself into, and all of you supported me and encouraged me and helped me in countless ways.

I know TFA has its supporters and its haters, but thank you for seeing me as a person separate from that organization. Thanks for recognizing that I was really there for the same reasons you were and that I had no misconceptions about going in and being able to do anything without the help of people like you.

I had so much fun with all of you. My favorite part of my job was being able to laugh, and I've never laughed harder than I have with you. Who could forget our staff parties, our after school venting sessions, our 5th block trips to get food, our Friday afternoon dance sessions, Tootin' and Bootin' it...I'm laughing again right now thinking about it. I'm going to miss all of you!

Thank you, thank you, thank you. I love you all.

Can't hide that Raider Priiiiiide (Alabama voice).

Ms. K "DemBootz" M