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First Person is where Chalkbeat features personal essays by educators, students, parents, and others thinking and writing about public education.
Our old digital gradebook system was awful. Now, I miss it it terribly.
How a small interaction changed my perception of my daughter’s school and my place in it.
Mr. W was the busiest person I knew, but he always took five minutes out of his day to make sure I was OK.
Across fourth, fifth, and sixth grades, many kids are struggling with sharing and working with others.
During my social and medical transitions, my parents and camp friends embraced me.
Yes, I rely on others to get through my day. So do you.
Miss Major Middle plans to center the experiences and voices of LGBTQ+ students.
Homeschooling my neurodivergent son taught me how districts can better meet students’ needs.
It feels like we are failing our immigrant students from the minute they walk in the school doors.
Find your voice, beat procrastination, and other lessons from my college application journey.
Would inheriting my father’s name mean inheriting his struggle?
Children with disabilities will continue to join our community and need to go to school. So why are we still busing them far from home?
I recently traveled to Europe to learn more about the Holocaust. Here are the lessons I brought back to my classroom.
People make assumptions about my high school — and about me.
Building a rapport with my students sometimes means sharing my own hardships and what got me through.
Our child had four surgeries before his fifth birthday. Still, we were determined to send him to kindergarten.
When I came back weeks later, I was determined to share what I had learned about loss — and showing up for those who are grieving — with my students.
Moving, real-life stories about immigrating to America, navigating language barriers, and confronting racism in school
The case remains unsolved, and my heart can never be unbroken.
Children and teens need representation, and that includes teachers who have struggled with mental health challenges.