The Answer - A blog about Education, Preparation, and Commitment.

Fighting for Rights in Education and Being Thankful for the People In this Mission

November 25, 2010 by Jeanne Fruge Rodriguez

With the end of the year in sight and the arrival of the holiday season comes the natural inclination to step back and reflect upon the highs and lows, effective and ineffective decisions, and the goals soon to be set. I think it is important to take a moment to think about all of these things through the lens of giving thanks. So often my convictions at work and at home are driven by my rights, the rights of others, rights in general. But what if I took a step back? What if we all took a step back and shifted perspective to viewing what we do every day and why we do what we do to focus on the gifts rather than the rights? My life is filled with gifts – from my loving husband and adorable son, my supportive family (both immediate and in-laws), my incredible co workers who teach me so much, the new teachers with whom I work and support in their development of skill and craft in the classroom – what a list of things to be thankful for! Working at YES Prep and as a member of the Teaching Excellence Program team are gifts that I should give thanks for but often take for granted. Each day, I am afforded the gift of waking up and working at a job that is my life’s passion. I sit in on conversations of possibility, strategic meetings that impact immediate change, debrief sessions that lead to a better understanding of the challenges faced by first year teachers and walk in and out of schools and classrooms where opportunities are being provided that would otherwise not exist in the lives of the students who fill the hallways and desks. No matter the roadblocks that arise, I work with a talented group of people who face these challenges head on and are committed to overcoming them in the spirit of living and breathing the mission of YES Prep. I am thankful that I am a part of the change that is transforming Houston. I couldn’t imagine a greater gift.

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