Issue link: http://latinschool.uberflip.com/i/96437
I was welcomed into the Latin community 22 years ago as a dance and movement teacher and have never wanted to teach anywhere else. I feel that each day I come to school is like starting a new job. You never know what excitement awaits you, and the possibility of learning new things is infinite. When someone from the Latin community greets you, there exists a real comfort in knowing that you share a common bond – the love of learning. It is a wonderful place to be a teacher because the students want to learn, the families are supportive, and my colleagues are experts in their fields. We all share our passion for education and look for ways to sustain and grow that passion. Over my years here, the approaches and expectations have changed but the commitment to excellence has remained constant. As a community, we are successful in our efforts because we all work together for the good of the whole. To take a page from a senior kindergarten movement lesson on learning to work in groups: "We have come to know the value of communicating, cooperating, collaborating and compromising to affect the desired outcome." We educate each other not only on academic issues, but also on what it means to take part in, and make a difference in the lives of others beyond our walls. It does not matter where I go or what I am doing, I am bound to meet someone from the Latin community or someone who knows about the reputation of the Latin School community. I am proud to be able to say that I am a teacher and a parent at Latin. Being a part of this community has impacted my life dramatically. It has afforded me the opportunity to evolve as an educator, but also as a person. It is my hope that everyone can pursue their passion within a community that encourages you to grow and change and to be part of an environment that celebrates accomplishments and supports life's passages. I am grateful that my daughter has had the opportunity to grow up in the Latin community. It has taught her a sense of belonging, pride and decency. Latin has become and always will be our family's extended family. "We all share our passion for education and look for ways to sustain and grow that passion." Jane working with a reluctant middle schooler; a lower school movement class in session. Latin School of Chicago 37