As a writer in my spare time I’ve been pretty quiet about my day job. But I’ve come to realize I’m a Jill of all trades and teaching students with special needs, those that can’t hack it in a full day in the normal educational system, is part of me.
Over half of my class has Autism. I’ve had students with this #ability every year since I started teaching and I’ve learned a LOT about what that means, how to work with their unique needs, and how to make progress.
I’ve been called a “diamond in the rough” because not all teachers can do it. I thought that’s what we were here for. (shrug) I didn’t think I was doing anything special. In the last few years, I have been given an award, been interviewed for the local paper, and shared my remote learning lesson plans with the supervisors high up in the co-op. I’ve been told by consultants who go into classrooms across the district that I know how to handle students and they wished more of the students had me as a teacher, or that I could teach others what I know.
So I’m going to start doing that.
I can’t separate my career from myself as it leads to some of my dips into depression, feeds my anxiety, and takes up a good 75% to 80% of my week. I know I can help people.
Elsha Hawk 
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