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Exactly 54 months ago, I made the decision to create a space for educators where we could laugh, debate and share about what really happens in the classroom. For months I did all of the obligatory things to make sure that I could secure a strong “debut”. I secured a name for the site (alas The Educator’s Room), secured all of the appropriate social media channels, and started advertising for other teachers to write so the viewpoint would be diverse. Then, I did the hardest part- I waited.

During the wait,  I approached teachers I worked with, but many were too scared to write about really happened once those metal doors to their school house closed. Slowly, I decided to use my new love for social media and over the past 54 months, I’ve had the pleasure of working with over 50 teachers/writers who believe that teachers are the experts in education. Those teachers have given up their planning periods, their time at home with their families, and even endured being written up by their principals-all because they wanted to write for us.

During this time together, we’ve all been through our own personal and professional highs and lows including (but not limited to):

Through all of these things that should have broken not only us individually but as a whole, we’ve realized that we are more than just people writing about our experiences- we are teachers on the front lines of making sure that the narrative of public education is being told accurately.

[bctt tweet=”This year we had teachers who through the loss of spouse continued to write for us. ” username=”EducatorsRoom”]

As we start this beautiful year, in the year 2017, I hope we are able to continue to:

  • empower certificated teachers to want to write about the good, bad, and ugly of public education. Note: This year alone we published over 500 articles from January 2016 to December 2016.
  • [bctt tweet=”Note: This year alone we published over 500 articles from January 2016 to December 2016.” username=”EducatorsRoom”]
  • have dissenting political viewpoints- our differences make us stronger as a collective whole.
  • question how non-educators influence education on the national and local level.
  • have workshops that focus on our Whole Teacher Movement that we’ve discussed extensively on the site.
  • have REAL professional development opportunities led by teachers across the country.
  • be a community that advocates for teachers 365 days a year.

To all of our writers, I want to say a very public “THANK YOU” because you take time away from your students, family, and own hopes to pour into The Educator’s Room. Because of you, we’ve been able to move mountains with an almost non-existent budget and resources. I would like to take the time to thank the following writers for being total ROCK STARS for this entire year.

[bctt tweet=”We’ve had teachers threatened to be written up by their principals for writing for us. ” username=”EducatorsRoom”]

Thank you to…

In the end, we pledge to continue to be here for teachers in 2017 just like we’ve done for the last 4 years. As always, we’d love to hear what you need for us this year. Happy New Year!

 

For fifteen years Franchesca taught English/Language Arts in two urban districts in Atlanta, Georgia,...

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17 Comments

    1. Thank you so much Doug! We feel the same way. Our teacher voices are so important in this work. 🙂

  1. I’ve followed your site since the beginning (or near beginning)! Thank you for your amazing work; for providing a safe place for us educators to share honestly what’s happening in the classroom and how it affects our lives.
    May 2017 bring great things to the ER and to you!

  2. I love The Educators Room and frequently repost it on our Facebook page – Regional Training Center (RTC). We offer grad courses for teachers. I previously wrote and managed our blog until we shut it down. As a former secondary teacher and now Supervisor of Instruction for RTC, I’d love to contribute to your page. Any chance? How do I get involved?

  3. It is so necessary and important for people who can actually speak from the authority of their PRACTICE(instead of just merely the authority of their POSITION) about the real-life joys, struggles, and questions that arise from educating the next generation of teachers and students. Thank you for creating the space to do so!

    I would love to give back and move from reader/spectator of your wonderful educators’ writing to participant in 2017. That’s my resolution. Thanks for all you do, Franchesca.

    Best,
    Adam
    Educator of Educators | School/District Consultant
    Co-Creator of School in the Square Public Charter School

  4. It is so necessary and important for people who can actually speak from the authority of their PRACTICE (instead of just merely the authority of their POSITION) about the real-life joys, struggles, and questions that arise from educating the next generation of teachers and students. Thank you for creating the space to do so!

    I would love to give back and move from reader/spectator of your wonderful educators’ writing to participant in 2017. That’s my resolution. Thanks for all you do, Franchesca.

    Best,
    Adam
    Educator of Educators | School/District Consultant
    Co-Creator of School in the Square Public Charter School

  5. Many ,many thanks to you all for shearing .I am in Europe and you have helped me with my work sooooo many times I just can not thank you all enough . Please keek up the good work

  6. So sorry – I haven’t been very active – will fix that this year! Thank you to all! Here’s to a monumental 2017!

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