The Teacher On a Given Day

I have been a middle and high school Language Arts/Reading teacher for 29 years. I've learned that the heart of adolescence is most celebrated in the pulse of teaching and that my students are the teachers. I titled this book The Teacher On a Given Day because on a given day, I am given the opportunity to learn from my students, to celebrate "the human story," to play in the realms of lessons and love, and to better myself for the world. Analogous to the anticipation of reading a book that's "a real page-turner of a love story," I love wondering what I'll experience at school on a given day. This book of poems reflects the memories and inspirations of my students - "my teachers" - then and now. Each poem is titled "The Teacher" to commemorate all of my students. Whether it's hearing from former students in real time or in the inspirational messages of memories, I am fortunate to witness their evolution and impact in this world. This propels my own evolution and impact in this world. The trickle effect is incessant, and this book epitomizes the gratitude I have for that.