So, if you did not know-I am a first year, 2nd grade teacher!

And let me tell you, I am soooooo excited! This has literally been a dream of mine since I was a little boy!

Maybe it’s because I grew up in a household with two parents who were (and still are) educators!

Nevertheless, I have been on this journey for months now.

I graduated college and completed my student teaching experience in May. Just to pivot-God blessed me tremendously in college. I graduated with a 3.9 GPA, magna cum laude, honors, the first Black male to graduate from Columbia College’s Call Me MiSTER program and to top it all off, I was the student commencement speaker for my class! I may share some of those photos in the following blog posts.

But, after graduating, I was in search for a job! I finally found one and I am so grateful for my start!

Now, it is time to get my classroom together.

I seem to only have a limited time to do so, since I am jam packed with professional developments this week and next week-but today I got started on some things in my room!

Here are some of the boxes I packed into my car, a few days ago.

That was Friday. Now, today is the day I went inside of my classroom to set up! Think of today as Classroom Set Up Day 1.

I knew it was going to be a task to get all of my boxes out of my car and into the school-but I did not realize, God had a ram in the bush the whole time. As I was walking to back my car to make my second trip, my mentor teacher and her two children were walking towards me. They asked me what I was doing and if I needed any help. After reassuring them that I was fine, my mentor teacher said her son would want to help. Now mind you, he is in the 5th grade, so about 10 years old. But he ended up being a great help! He opened the door, he helped me load boxes into the cart to take inside, and was so happy to do so! Even his little sister stepped in at some point just to make sure things were squared away! I couldn’t have asked for a better ram in the bush.

After everything was moved in, I was able to at least start on my classroom! Although I am seeing great progress, there is still so much more to be done!

But I AM SO EXCITED!!!

I will keep you all posted as my teaching journey takes off!

Yours truly