Breaking the silence : my final forty days as a public school teacher : a memoir

Cover Page; Dedication; Foreword; Preface; Acknowledgements; Introduction; 40 Teachers Are Not Robots; 39 Letting Go-Even When It Hurts; 38 I Teach Students, Not Subjects; 37 The Mysteries of Dental Floss and Menstrual Cycles; 36 Where's the Appreciation?; 35 The Power of Visuals; 34 Betrayed By a Letter; 33 It Takes Heart and Soul; 32 The Effect of Stress; 31 Epiphany; 30 What Teachers REALLY Want; 29 A Pocket Full of Dreams; 28 The Lives They Live; 27 Lessons in Forgiveness; 26 Tears Over Fruit and Cookies; 25 A Visitor in Room 719; 24 Safety in Words and Paper Flowers; 23 Judgment Day Breaking the Silence:My Final Forty Days as a Public School Teacher America’s public school system is broken and M. Shannon Hernandez knows why,firsthand. After fifteen years in the teaching profession, three gut-wrenching realizationsforced her to recognize that she must leave the career she loved so dearly.She knew that if she continued to work for a failing system, she would also continueto lose a little piece of her heart and soul every day. You are invited into Hernandez’s classroom for the final forty days of her teachingcareer to understand the urgent need for school reform, clearly demonstrated in eachstory. You’ll witness the intelligence, vulnerability, and humanity of her students,and the challenges teachers like Hernandez face as they navigate the dangerouswaters between advocating for and meeting students’ needs and disconnectededucation policy. This book is not only a love letter to her students, her fellow teachers, and to thereformed public school system she envisions, but also a heartfelt message of hope, encouragement,and self-empowerment for those who feel they are stuck in soul-suckingcareers. It is an essential read for each citizen who is seeking a life comprised ofmore purpose and happiness, as well as parents, teachers, administrators, and policymakerswho know our nation’s education system is in desperate need of an overhaul. Praise for Breaking the Silence Shannon Hernandez has crafted a beautifully written, heartbreaking book about why she left a profession she loved and why so many other great teachers are doing the same thing. Her memoir is filled with love and compassion for students, making the reader forge an immediate identification with the author, who is gradually beaten down by a bureaucracy that micromanages her and refuses to recognize her gifts. This is a memoir that touches the heart, as well as the intellect. It’s an important window into the tragedy that has befallen America’s best teachers.—Dr Mark Naison, Professor of African American Studies and History,Fordham University, and co-founder, Badass Teachers Association Having spent five years in the public education system, I found myself simultaneously readingin disbelief and "experienced acknowledgement" as Shannon shares her story of finding, andthen losing, her own purpose as a professional educator. The journey she takes you on throughthese chapters will make you think very carefully about the current state of affairs; and, itwill give you hope that there are indeed people who care that much about the well being andwelfare of your children.—Jason W. Womack, author of Your Best Just Got Better Having met Shannon as she began thinking about leaving the public school system, and having worked with her closely on that plan, her exit, and the beginning of her new business and reclaimed life, I've been privileged with a front-seat for the show that never should have happened. This book gives you a front seat, too, and shares the heartbreaks, as well as the triumphs; the unfortunate endings, as well as the inspired beginnings. It leaves you, all at once, sad and hopeful, and with a place to start a conversation, if you've a mind to, in your own community. This is a powerhouse book filled with honest insight and courageous words which illustrate that we must stand up for what we believe in most, even when it’s the difficult path. We must all become leaders in education reform. Taking the first step is the most difficult part, but without that first step, we will never see change.-Tim McDonald, Director of Community at The Huffington Post This book is a wake-up call to administrators, advocates, and parents who truly care about why we lose great teachers and how we can save good schools.-Tai Goodwin-Kastens, Parent, Author, and Former 5th Grade Teacher Breaking the Silence: My Final Forty Days as a Public School Teacher Americas public school system is broken and M. Shannon Hernandez knows why, firsthand. After fifteen years in the teaching profession, three gut-wrenching realizations forced her to recognize that she must leave the career she loved so dearly. She knew that if she continued to work for a failing system, she would also continue to lose a little piece of her heart and soul every day. You are invited into Hernandezs classroom for the final forty days of her teaching career to understand the urgent need for school reform, clearly demonstrated in each story. Youll witness the intelligence, vulnerability, and humanity of her students, and the challenges teachers like Hernandez face as they navigate the dangerous waters between advocating for and meeting students needs and disconnected education policy. This book is not only a love letter to her students, her fellow teachers, and to the reformed public school system she envisions, but also a heartfelt message of hope, encouragement, and self-empowerment for those who feel they are stuck in soul-sucking careers. It is an essential read for each citizen who is seeking a life comprised of more purpose and happiness, as well as parents, teachers, administrators, and policymakers who know our nations education system is in desperate need of an overhaul. Praise for Breaking the Silence Shannon Hernandez has crafted a beautifully written, heartbreaking book about why she left a profession she loved and why so many other great teachers are doing the same thing. Her memoir is filled with love and compassion for students, making the reader forge an immediate identification with the author, who is gradually beaten down by a bureaucracy that micromanages her and refuses to recognize her gifts. This is a memoir that touches the heart, as well as the intellect. Its an important window into the tragedy that has befallen Americas best teachers. Dr Mark Naison, Professor of African American Studies and History, Fordham University, and co-founder, Badass Teachers Association Having spent five years in the public education system, I found myself simultaneously reading in disbelief and experienced acknowledgement as Shannon shares her story of finding, and then losing, her own purpose as a professional educator. The journey she takes you on through these chapters will make you think very carefully about the current state of affairs; and, it will give you hope that there are indeed people who care that much about the well being and welfare of your children. Jason W. Womack, author of Your Best Just Got Better Having met Shannon as she began thinking about leaving the public school system, and having worked with her closely on that plan, her exit, and the beginning of her new business and reclaimed life, I've been privileged with a front-seat for the show that never should have happened. This book gives you a front seat, too, and shares the heartbreaks, as well as the triumphs; the unfortunate endings, as well as the inspired beginnings. It leaves you, all at once, sad and hopeful, and with a place to start a conversation, if you've a mind to, in your own community. This is a powerhouse book filled with honest insight and courageous words which illustrate that we must stand up for what we believe in most, even when its the difficult path. We must all become leaders in education reform. Taking the first step is the most difficult part, but without that first step, we will never see change. After 15 years in the teaching profession, three gut-wrenching realizations forced M. Shannon Hernandez to recognize that she must leave the career she loved so dearly, or else continue to lose a little piece of her heart and soul every day. You are invited into Hernandez's classroom for the final forty days of her teaching career to understand the urgent need for school reform. This book is not only a love letter to her students, her fellow teachers, and to the reformed public school system she envisions, but also a heartfelt message of hope, encouragement, and self-empowerment for those who feel they are stuck in soul-sucking careers. Breaking the Silence is an essential read for each citizen who is seeking a life comprised of more purpose and happiness, as well as parents, teachers, administrators, and policymakers who know our nation's education system is in desperate need of an overhaul.