As August approaches, I notice people everywhere preparing for the new school year. A friend of mine recently said to their child, “It’s time to go school-supply shopping,” which made me realize that I am not involved in these back-to-school activities. Since joining the News Journal two weeks ago, I’ve observed friends buying supplies, purchasing new clothes, decorating their classrooms, and trying to adjust their sleep schedules. It definitely feels strange, considering I was applying to schools just a month ago.
Reflecting on my journey, it’s been a long path toward becoming a teacher. Since the fall of 2019, I embarked on this journey with a major in elementary education, driven by a dream of teaching that dates back to first grade. Along the way, I completed all required courses and fulfilled my observation hours, studied hard, passed my education exams, and completed student teaching at both Corbin Primary School and Corbin Elementary. After a year teaching second grade in Richmond at Boonesborough Elementary School, I’m now experiencing the back-to-school season from a different perspective. Instead of stepping into a classroom, I’ve transitioned to an office.
Even though I’m no longer in the classroom, I haven’t drifted far from education. As a new member of the News Journal, I’ve been covering several school-related events, which keeps me connected.
One topic on my mind is Senate Bill 181, commonly referred to as SB 181, and how it could impact communication between schools and families. I always recognized the importance of communication with parents and students, regardless of grade level. Personally, I used Remind as a communication tool, while others opted for ClassDojo and similar platforms. However, none of these platforms comply with SB 181 and can no longer be used. This poses a real challenge for educators striving to maintain connections with parents without unintentionally crossing any lines.
This brings me to the positive developments in some districts. For instance, I was pleased to see Whitley County adopting ParentSquare. I had never encountered this application before SB 181, but I learned about it during the Whitley County Board of Education meeting on July 24. ParentSquare offers a safe, secure, and modern approach to communication and collaboration between schools and homes. Its user-friendly design makes the transition smoother, especially because it supports English Language Learner (ELL) families by automatically translating messages, allowing parents who don’t speak English fluently to stay informed and engaged.
This is truly significant. During classroom observations in college, I witnessed an ELL student who had just moved from Mexico. The student spoke no English, and while their teacher tried her best, sometimes even using Spanish in her teachings, the teacher wasn’t fluent, and none of the other students spoke their language. This student was provided with resources to support them, but I can only imagine how lonely and isolated they must have felt. It served as a reminder of how much more challenging school can be for those students and their families. Tools like ParentSquare won’t solve everything, but they are a step in the right direction toward making education more accessible and inclusive.
Being an educator is challenging, and trying to comply with SB 181 makes the job even more difficult due to its language and blind spots. Although SB 181 is important, it is currently making the jobs of many educators harder.
As I’ve been following these developments, I’ve come to realize something else: it’s perfectly acceptable to change your mind. It’s okay to love one career and still feel drawn to another. Life isn’t always linear, and it’s normal to want to explore multiple paths, which is something I’ve come to embrace.
So, while I may not be labeling supplies, preparing lessons and activities for the first week of school, or planning bulletin boards this year, I still feel a deep connection to our schools. Surprisingly, I don’t feel as much fear of missing out (FOMO) as I initially thought I would.
