I am not what you’d call a “morning person.” But since August I’ve been up at the crack of dawn almost every day. Why, you ask? Well, blame it on the new job and the 35-minute commute.

Yes, these days I rise and whine, I mean shine, in the wee hours.

A longish commute, a reluctant riser, and a carefully crafted routine that allows me to eke out every precious moment in bed. Step 1 of my survival guide involves me showering the night before and hitting the hay with damp hair — it’s like the MacGyver of morning routines.

When the alarm screams, I hit the snooze button, and then begins the mental gymnastics of calculating how long I can stay cocooned under my comforter and delay the inevitable — dragging myself out of bed. After that, it’s a stumbling journey to the bathroom, multitasking like a pro: curling my hair while doing my makeup and downing a coffee that’s practically a lifeline. And trust me, I’ve got the exact minute I can leave without getting stuck behind school buses transporting future leaders of tomorrow.

After years of being the MVP caregiver at home, I’ve made a comeback to the world of teaching. But this time it’s the big leagues: public school. Talk about a wake-up call! I’m teaching German to roughly 100 middle-schoolers and I’m blissfully happy. Exhausted. But blissfully happy. I love my boss — he’s a restorative practice savant and possibly the most compassionate person I’ve ever met. The teachers I work with are incredible. They’re brilliant, interesting, dedicated, funny, and they genuinely love kids. I like them so much that I already spend time with them outside of work hours, though it’s not unusual to find us still exchanging ideas in our classrooms on any given work night after 5 o’clock.

But the real gems are the kids. They are the embodiment of everything kids should be. Beautifully inquisitive, age-appropriately exasperating in hilarious ways, occasionally naughty, and delightfully challenging. They’re pushing boundaries, rolling their eyes, and chewing gum like it’s a competitive sport. Yet, amidst the typical kid antics, many of them carry burdens they shouldn’t have to bear: food insecurity, homelessness, neglect, abuse, and serious emotional and mental health challenges. It’s a heavy load for such young shoulders.

Teaching kids is hard. But here’s the kicker: If you’re lucky enough to earn their respect, your heart grows three sizes, like the Grinch’s did on Christmas morning. Let me tell you, I wouldn’t swap that feeling for all the caffeine in the world. Kids and chaos. That’s the name of the game. And even though I’ve just about survived the teenage years as a parent, I’m ready to put myself through it in perpetuity. When life hands you teenagers and classroom shenanigans, you might as well embrace every unexpected twist and turn and enjoy the ride. Bring it on, perpetual adolescence!

Now, if I had entered my new job without years of teaching experience and without the battle-hardened wisdom from parenting, I might’ve been tempted to hit the eject button. So, I understand that new teachers might feel like they’re drowning in an ocean of overwhelm, thinking, “Maybe this ship isn’t for me.” And seasoned teachers? Well, not everyone is as blissfully happy as I am, and with good reason. So, their voices need to be heard. Not to mention many suffer from what we affectionately call “compassion fatigue.” It’s like a marathon of empathy, and sometimes, you just hit the proverbial wall.

Now, enter the Maine Department of Education, spending a cool million on a national ad campaign. Here’s the kicker — it’s about as well-conceived as a snowman in a heatwave. Trying to lure teachers from away with Maine’s picturesque landscapes to earn half of what they could get in other New England states? I’m certainly not the only one asking why aren’t we investing in potential teachers from Maine and in our kids’ education instead?

But hold on, all stakeholders are on the same team here. The Department of Education, the Legislature, schools, local school boards, and even my pals at the Maine Education Association (yep, I’m a card-carrying member) — we all want the same thing. More teachers, thriving schools, happy students, you name it. So, it’s time for everyone to huddle up and figure this out together.

Teachers are not just shaping minds; they’re forging future doctors, engineers, and the next wave of innovators. They deserve more than just a pat on the back. Pay them what they’re worth and create an environment where they can shine. Give them the tools, the opportunities for professional development, and for the love of whiteboards, let’s make sure they don’t burn out.

A well-educated future for our kids? That’s a paycheck that just keeps on giving. And trust me, that’s a check we should all want to cash.

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