I said I wasn't gonna cry this year, but I did. I love these folks and am blessed to have been a part of their journey for three years. Onward...#classof2026🎓 #mybabies💕
From sitting in the audience watching him play to sitting in the audience watching other young people play his music.
Today was a very special day. The Memphis Youth Symphony played five of James' songs he composed. And I am so very proud to have been there in the audience applauding his talent and hard work. All the hard work and dedication paid off and will continue to pay off. And I will always be in the audience cheering him on. 💜💜
Follow up post to the last one. The final project for my seniors was to introduce me to a new poem/poet. These are some of my projects. I'm laminating them so I can keep them because they chose some really good poems. These are only a few of my favorites. And the final slide was a gift from one of my talented students. Man, I'm gonna miss them. 💚💛💚💛
Another school year is coming to an end. More tears were shed today. I'm gonna miss them so much, but they're ready for the next phase of life, and I'm so proud. Most of them I've taught for three years, so I've watched them mature and grow. c/o 2026 💚💛💚💛
Last two slides are for Cam who had principals list and received an academic award in English. Super proud of him too.
A semi-long post with a story and a thank you: When I used to work at The Daily News, part of my job was to read the paper everyday. And I remember reading story after story about teenagers committing crimes. It was frustrating because I felt those kids were definitely being failed. I desired to do something that could help change the narrative. My uncle suggested I apply to be a teacher and I laughed. Not me, I thought. The more I thought about it, I knew it was perfect. My kids sometimes say my class is hard, but I take that to mean "your expectations are really high" and they are. And have been for 18 years of doing this job I never wanted to do. I don't say this on some savior type -is cause that's not this. I say this because I hope I have created community in my classes where they know I expect a lot, but that I love them a lot, too.
I may not have changed the narrative but I hope I'm helping to complicate it. We have some great kids out here, I mean truly great kids. They're intelligent, curious, and both good-and big-hearted. I felt a lot of love from my kids today, both students and my biological, and for that, I'm eternally grateful. I'm grateful for every call, every message, every thought sent my way today. Okay, 53, let's see how good we can make this life.
Some of my snow-bound reading. The Reformatory by Tanarive Due is historical fiction that tells a fictionalized account of the boys who lived and died and were tortured at the Dozier School for Boys. The protagonist shares the name of her great-uncle Robert Stephens. It's truly compelling and heart-rending. And I'm reading Bausch because I love the way he tells a short story. How what's not said on the page still manages to dominate the story. And Patricia Smith's new collection, which I am loving. Really struck by this gem "My Million Fathers, Still Here Past":
"Griots of sloped porch and city walk, you, my million fathers, / still here past chalk outlines, dirty needles, and prison cots, / still here past ass whuppings, tree hangings, and many calls / to war, past J.B. stupor, absent children, and drive-bys."
And of course the closing lines: Open bony dark-veined / arms and receive me, a woman in the shape of your daughter, / who is taking on your last days as her very blood, learning / your whispered language too late to stop your dying, / but not too late/ to tell / this story.
