I wanted to be a school teacher my whole life and had to change my career aspirations because at the time I was going to school, I was already earning more than a starting teacher was paid and I couldn't justify the expense of higher ed for that profession.
I realized I'm a teacher in spirit, if not on paper. I teach adults every day in my position; I'm an accountant. I teach my colleagues how to submit paperwork, and how to navigate software. I troubleshoot for them so they don't have to, and then I teach them how to avoid whatever mistake was made.
There are many people writing on Substack that I follow and admire - for their knowledge and experience and their ability to cut through the noise and help me make sense of what’s going on - but you inspire me. That sets you apart and distinguishes you as a teacher. Thank you for your bravery and your willingness to put yourself at the front of this fight for the heart and soul of our country.
Community college nursing professor here, and yes that’s so true. I often consider myself so lucky to have such motivated and diligent students, as many of them are older than average folks who have rearranged their lives to learn and start a new career in nursing.
Oh and to Teacher Jess, you’ll never *not* be a teacher. Just as we say in nursing, you’re always a nurse whether you’re practicing at the moment or not. It’s about the mindset and way that you view and engage with the world. I am thankful that your home state of Missouri and the wider country via social media have now become your classroom, as your teaching passion is still very evident in all that you do. Keep up the excellent work sister! ❤️
Thanks for sharing your experiences. I taught psychology courses and had a lot of pre-nursing and other healthcare-related majors, many of which were older, as you said. Very inspiring people.
I went back to study ceramics at our local junior colleges, which was something I'd always longed to do. I went to UC Berkeley as an undergrad, but the spirit and dedication of teachers and students at the community colleges were amazing. Studying there was one of the highlights of my life.
Ha, in all the teacher talk, I'd forgotten that I did the same, Susan! I earned a certificate in massage therapy rather later in life. We were eight diverse people who ended up being very close. Definitely a highlight for me, too; thank you for reminding me of it.
An educated population is a National asset. This fact has long been recognized and encouraged by our government on the state and federal level by first offering free schooling grades 1 thru 8. Years later grades K thru 12 was the offering.
I believe today’s world requires more advanced education and have advocated free public education K thru 16 for some time. I am not calling for all centers of higher learning to open their doors to all comers, but qualified students should have free access to advanced training and education at our public schools.
It would appear the 2025 version of Missouri’s GOP controlled General Assembly has come around to my way of thinking. Several proposed bills seek to use tuition assistance or reimbursement as a recruitment tool for various fields.
HB 419 allows military personnel to get in-state tuition. SB 71 offers tuition waivers to first responders and their children, and SB 150 offers reimbursement for technical school and community college degrees in shortage areas.
Baby steps perhaps but in the right direction at least.
If we don’t educate young people first, there will be no people to fill those slots for older adults.
The GOP doesn’t want EVERYONE to receive an education. They want white Christian males of privilege to receive an education. You know—like the “good old days”.
Career public school teacher here…28 years and 2.5 more to go. Thank you, Jess! I am in a blue corner of a blue state, and have always served low-income students and families. This is and has been my privilege and life’s work.
Destroying public education, both state by state and nationally, is such a shockingly evil, corrupt thing to do that I really have no words for it—and a teacher with no words is unheard of!
High-quality public education is our country’s crowning glory, and this despicable regime thinks they can end it, because they know that educated people won’t stand for their bs.
There will be a reckoning. Thank you for speaking out, Jess! 👊🏼
And we're at the front end of that reckoning. The decline of public education's bellwether was manifest November 5, 2024 and is now emerging into full visibility in the March/April devolution of the Federal Government.
I know I learn something from your posts, Jess. It just proves you can take the teacher out of the classroom, but you can’t take the teacher out of the teacher. (That sounded better in my head. Ah, you know what I mean.)
Like all the great Teachers I have known, you connect the dots Jess that leads to the “aha” moment. I believe the Republicans are deliberately breaking the government so their Oligarch masters can swoop in and “fix” it. I’ll be going to our local “hands off” protest and hope to open peoples’ eyes. My way of connecting the dots.
Same. Only 3 years in Detroit Public School classroom for me and now 10+ as an organizer with New York State United Teachers - we are teachers, our students and subjects are different now. Being a teacher changes you for the better.
Keep fighting and keep teaching people to take hold of their power. Proud to be in this fight with you!
As the proud child of first generation immigrants who worked in public schools as teachers and administrators, who struggled to help desegregate and build equitable school districts, this brought tears to my eyes. If we truly wanted to make America great again, we would fully fund and build the best public education systems in the world. Instead, the Fascists are trying to destroy already weakened and underfunded public schools. Hands off to the Project 2025 Nazis, hands on to the people!
Jess, thanks for “teaching” us. I always learn something from your posts and look forward to them. Free, public education has been invaluable to our country and should be to other countries as well. It breaks my heart to see what is happening with this cruel, uncaring regime. My birth state of Missouri has abandoned its residents and many of the residents (too many) don’t even know what is happening so keep spreading the word. Thank you again for all you are doing. I’m seeing your name pop up in all sorts of places and you are making a difference!
One of your very best. I always wanted to be a teacher (in Missouri) but the stigma of low pay overtook me. The most influential people in my life (outside of family) were teachers. Later in my retirement years I've taught history thru Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at a local university, the thrill is still there. Here in the south our state legislature is trying to use our public tax proceeds to actually fund homeschoolers to the tune of $6,000 tax credit with no income restrictions or oversight. In one form or another this gift to Christian Nationalists will will succeed someday soon. It is so hard to mobilize people, but I envy you for your strength...you are a warrior.
Thank you Jess. I am not an educator by trade, I'm an engineer. That is a profession I dreamed of in 7th Grade and through hard work and public education I fulfilled my dream. In my nearly 50 years of work/practice (I'm a retired P.E.) I succeeded often because I learned to learn in those classrooms. During my waning years of work I went out of my way to teach those colleagues coming after me and found those "projects" among my most rewarding. My wife is a lifelong teacher, mostly middle school mathematics. When you watch her even today when dementia has dulled her memories and skills you will see her asking our grands questions to help them arrive at thoughtful conclusions and understandings. She too was a product of public education through high school as are our 3 children, their spouses, and now are grandchildren. It is tragic the damage Missouri's supermajority has done to our entire education system. We must turn this nonsense around!
I wanted to be a school teacher my whole life and had to change my career aspirations because at the time I was going to school, I was already earning more than a starting teacher was paid and I couldn't justify the expense of higher ed for that profession.
I realized I'm a teacher in spirit, if not on paper. I teach adults every day in my position; I'm an accountant. I teach my colleagues how to submit paperwork, and how to navigate software. I troubleshoot for them so they don't have to, and then I teach them how to avoid whatever mistake was made.
If you teach, you're a teacher. Period.
❤️
There are many people writing on Substack that I follow and admire - for their knowledge and experience and their ability to cut through the noise and help me make sense of what’s going on - but you inspire me. That sets you apart and distinguishes you as a teacher. Thank you for your bravery and your willingness to put yourself at the front of this fight for the heart and soul of our country.
Thank you!
As a "former" adjunct college professor, I feel every word of this post. Thank you for all you do!
I work at a community college and I teach the adjuncts and FT professors 😁 And it's an honor!
Teaching at community college was my favorite: the students overall were more focused, motivated, and willing to invest in their education.
We need more teachers in spirit like you!
Community college nursing professor here, and yes that’s so true. I often consider myself so lucky to have such motivated and diligent students, as many of them are older than average folks who have rearranged their lives to learn and start a new career in nursing.
Oh and to Teacher Jess, you’ll never *not* be a teacher. Just as we say in nursing, you’re always a nurse whether you’re practicing at the moment or not. It’s about the mindset and way that you view and engage with the world. I am thankful that your home state of Missouri and the wider country via social media have now become your classroom, as your teaching passion is still very evident in all that you do. Keep up the excellent work sister! ❤️
Thanks for sharing your experiences. I taught psychology courses and had a lot of pre-nursing and other healthcare-related majors, many of which were older, as you said. Very inspiring people.
Yes, we need all the teachers we can get!! I'm
I went back to study ceramics at our local junior colleges, which was something I'd always longed to do. I went to UC Berkeley as an undergrad, but the spirit and dedication of teachers and students at the community colleges were amazing. Studying there was one of the highlights of my life.
Ha, in all the teacher talk, I'd forgotten that I did the same, Susan! I earned a certificate in massage therapy rather later in life. We were eight diverse people who ended up being very close. Definitely a highlight for me, too; thank you for reminding me of it.
It’s a wonderful way to get to really know your community 🙏
Thank you Jess! I’m going off now to a big protest in Omaha. Take public schools back!!! No Trump, No Musk, YES to our children!!!!!
Solidarity
What ‘boarders’ on stupidity? …. Canada and Mexico
An educated population is a National asset. This fact has long been recognized and encouraged by our government on the state and federal level by first offering free schooling grades 1 thru 8. Years later grades K thru 12 was the offering.
I believe today’s world requires more advanced education and have advocated free public education K thru 16 for some time. I am not calling for all centers of higher learning to open their doors to all comers, but qualified students should have free access to advanced training and education at our public schools.
It would appear the 2025 version of Missouri’s GOP controlled General Assembly has come around to my way of thinking. Several proposed bills seek to use tuition assistance or reimbursement as a recruitment tool for various fields.
HB 419 allows military personnel to get in-state tuition. SB 71 offers tuition waivers to first responders and their children, and SB 150 offers reimbursement for technical school and community college degrees in shortage areas.
Baby steps perhaps but in the right direction at least.
If we don’t educate young people first, there will be no people to fill those slots for older adults.
The GOP doesn’t want EVERYONE to receive an education. They want white Christian males of privilege to receive an education. You know—like the “good old days”.
Our children are our future!!!!
Career public school teacher here…28 years and 2.5 more to go. Thank you, Jess! I am in a blue corner of a blue state, and have always served low-income students and families. This is and has been my privilege and life’s work.
Destroying public education, both state by state and nationally, is such a shockingly evil, corrupt thing to do that I really have no words for it—and a teacher with no words is unheard of!
High-quality public education is our country’s crowning glory, and this despicable regime thinks they can end it, because they know that educated people won’t stand for their bs.
There will be a reckoning. Thank you for speaking out, Jess! 👊🏼
And we're at the front end of that reckoning. The decline of public education's bellwether was manifest November 5, 2024 and is now emerging into full visibility in the March/April devolution of the Federal Government.
I know I learn something from your posts, Jess. It just proves you can take the teacher out of the classroom, but you can’t take the teacher out of the teacher. (That sounded better in my head. Ah, you know what I mean.)
❤️
Thank you. Carry on good warrior!
Like all the great Teachers I have known, you connect the dots Jess that leads to the “aha” moment. I believe the Republicans are deliberately breaking the government so their Oligarch masters can swoop in and “fix” it. I’ll be going to our local “hands off” protest and hope to open peoples’ eyes. My way of connecting the dots.
Same. Only 3 years in Detroit Public School classroom for me and now 10+ as an organizer with New York State United Teachers - we are teachers, our students and subjects are different now. Being a teacher changes you for the better.
Keep fighting and keep teaching people to take hold of their power. Proud to be in this fight with you!
As the proud child of first generation immigrants who worked in public schools as teachers and administrators, who struggled to help desegregate and build equitable school districts, this brought tears to my eyes. If we truly wanted to make America great again, we would fully fund and build the best public education systems in the world. Instead, the Fascists are trying to destroy already weakened and underfunded public schools. Hands off to the Project 2025 Nazis, hands on to the people!
Once a teacher, always a teacher.
We find different avenues to spread knowledge and information.
Jess, thanks for “teaching” us. I always learn something from your posts and look forward to them. Free, public education has been invaluable to our country and should be to other countries as well. It breaks my heart to see what is happening with this cruel, uncaring regime. My birth state of Missouri has abandoned its residents and many of the residents (too many) don’t even know what is happening so keep spreading the word. Thank you again for all you are doing. I’m seeing your name pop up in all sorts of places and you are making a difference!
One of your very best. I always wanted to be a teacher (in Missouri) but the stigma of low pay overtook me. The most influential people in my life (outside of family) were teachers. Later in my retirement years I've taught history thru Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at a local university, the thrill is still there. Here in the south our state legislature is trying to use our public tax proceeds to actually fund homeschoolers to the tune of $6,000 tax credit with no income restrictions or oversight. In one form or another this gift to Christian Nationalists will will succeed someday soon. It is so hard to mobilize people, but I envy you for your strength...you are a warrior.
Thank you Jess. I am not an educator by trade, I'm an engineer. That is a profession I dreamed of in 7th Grade and through hard work and public education I fulfilled my dream. In my nearly 50 years of work/practice (I'm a retired P.E.) I succeeded often because I learned to learn in those classrooms. During my waning years of work I went out of my way to teach those colleagues coming after me and found those "projects" among my most rewarding. My wife is a lifelong teacher, mostly middle school mathematics. When you watch her even today when dementia has dulled her memories and skills you will see her asking our grands questions to help them arrive at thoughtful conclusions and understandings. She too was a product of public education through high school as are our 3 children, their spouses, and now are grandchildren. It is tragic the damage Missouri's supermajority has done to our entire education system. We must turn this nonsense around!