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Can you tell us about yourself? 

“Hello, my name is Lindsay Harvey. I am currently a teacher here at Holmes High School. I know it is kind of backwards, but you can see it on my shirt. I am a World History teacher for 10^th graders. We are here in San Antonio, TX. This is my first year being a World History teacher, but I have been a SPED teacher for about 3 years now.”

Why did you start a career in education?

“When I started my career in education, honestly, I wanted to become a nurse. But then I realized I that I loved history. I had always wanted to teach people, I love teaching. I love helping. That really influenced my idea to become a teacher.”

If you could have any other job what would it be and why?

“If I could have any other job in the world what would I… I honestly thought about this because I’ve always wondered if I really want to be a teacher forever. Its actually been a really hard decision. I am not sure what I would do if I was not a teacher, but I do love helping people. So, I think somewhere in that field where I would help people still.”

How are kids different now than 30 years ago?

“So, how are kids different than 30 years ago? I was not even born 30 years ago. But based on what I have heard, kids are much much more different. There are a lot more things going on in their lives. There are a lot more things they are experiencing that they had not experienced 30 years ago as children. And their minds are different too. We have a lot of the Autism spectrum, which of course is not a bad thing. We have a lot of smarter kids, in that case.”

How is teaching different now than 30 years ago?

“In regard to that, teaching is a whole lot different. I wasn’t born then but I have heard teaching is essentially write down notes, take test. That’s it. There was nothing to help these kids. There was no differentiation, there was no … nothing. No special education, none of that kind of stuff. Things have really changed for teachers. I know I have heard from teachers who have been here for so so long and teachers who have taught for so so long, that education definitely has changed.”

What would you tell someone who wants to become a teacher?

“If I had something to tell someone who wanted to be a teacher, I would tell them definitely do it. I mean you have to have thick skin though because these kids will try to get under your skin. They will work hard to get under your skin because they don’t know any better. They are trying to get a reaction from you. That’s what they want. But if you show them that you aren’t going to give them a reaction and you have to buckle down and you have to stay firm with them, but it is fun though. Watching these kids grow, watching them develop skills. A story I have, I was at an open house here a couple weeks back that we had, the kids were able to tell their parents exactly what they just learned. And it was just an amazing amazing feeling. So, anyone wanting to become a teacher, definitely should just do it. And have that thick skin.

What is one thing you would change to help kids learn better?

“One thing I would change to help kids learn better would probably be to help them at home. A lot of them struggle. A lot of them don’t have any reading skill. I deal with that on a daily basis and I would just want to help them with the best of my ability. But of course, I can’t change the world that drastically. I can’t change it that big. I can only do what I can do here in the classroom. But I am trying to do something good in their lives. That’s what I want.”