Why do I Stay?

Our jobs are challenging.  Most of our students live in poverty and many of them do not speak English.  We work hard to provide them with a quality education and at times it seems that the law and the media take note of everything except the progress that is made each day in thousands of classrooms.  Those of  you who attended the 2010 Summit heard me ask the question, "Why do I stay?"  It is worth repeating here.  I stay because I believe in what we do each day, and I take it personally when I see federal dollars used in ways that are not the most beneficial for our students.  When a federal law requires that millions of dollars be spent on interventions that are not supported by data, all of us need to stay and work together for changes.  Until NCLB is amended, it is what we have.  Instead of leaving, let's collaborate to find the most beneficial and efficient uses of the federal law and dollars that we have.  That is why I stay.