Mr. Morgan's Reflection

When I started my first year of teaching, both in general and at St. Theresa’s, I had no idea that the school year would end like this. On my first day on campus, I was beyond nervous.  Those nerves were short-lived when I began meeting my fellow teachers here at St. Theresa’s. Everyone was extremely welcoming and wanted to help in any way that they could. This was a dream come true as a first year teacher, because I knew if I ever had a question I could ask any fellow teacher.

As the year progressed I faced many obstacles that my college course could not have predicted, such as a water pipe leak and of course the COVID-19 virus. I remember walking back to my classroom the day before Spring Break. I was talking with Mr. Arellano about my first year so far. We mentioned both the pipe and the possibility of moving to an eLearning platform, because the shelter in place order was not yet in effect. Mr. Arellano jokingly said that I could write a book about surviving your first year of teaching with all the random obstacles I had faced up to that point. Insead, I think I will just keep writing this reflection.

As we, the St. Theresa community, came closer to the beginning of the eLearning experience I could sense everyone was becoming more comfortable with our situation. With three days to figure out a new system of learning and a new schedule I could not have been more proud to be a part of this community. As the first day of eLearning quickly approached, I was less nervous than I was on the first day of school.

Many of my friends from Texas State, who are also in their first year teaching, have not been as blessed as I have been to finish out their first year. I cannot thank the St. Theresa Community enough for giving me the opportunity to finish my first year as I started, with my students. We may not be in the same room, but they will always be my first class. Hopefully when they are all grown up, they will come back to say hi and we can share a laugh and a memory from this year.