I See You!

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Teachers, I see you. I see the hard work you are putting in trying to ensure that instruction is just the right combination of what students need. With the love and support you provide them when in – person. I see you attempting to juggle and keep all of the plates spinning while ensuring that students get your best. Even when that means making sacrifices for you and your own family. I see you spending time learning new skills, new techniques, and new learning strategies to meet your student’s needs during an uncertain time.

Parents, I see you. I see how hard you are working to have your child online, and engaged in the activities the teacher is doing. I see you staying up late to get the errands and other things for your job that did not get done because you were learning a new way to teach reading today with a 5-year-old who is not quite ready to be at a computer all day. I see the amount of effort you put into juggling everything on your plate and re-educating yourself.

Administrator’s, I see you. I see your posts online, and the endless amount of hours you are putting into planning. Only to hang up the phone and having something change where you have to start over. I see you worrying about how to protect your staff, your students, and while still be responsive to the parent’s needs.

Lunch duty, crosswalk folks, bus drivers, maintenance staff, technology staff, and all other educational staff, I see you. I see you running around ensuring that the details that have been left up to you to figure out are taken care of. I see you trying to ensure everyone has food, supplies, and that things are clean and that no one goes hungry. I see technology departments getting the technology ready at lightning speed, learning new skills, and sitting on the phone trying to troubleshoot so that educators and students can do what they need to.

District personal. I see you! I see your endless hours mulling over the right and wrong. The benchmarks, the executive orders, and trying to be sure you phrase the email just right so that you are as clear and concise as possible.

I see all of you! I see a giant educational system that is stepping up to be able to provide to students and families what they need in a time of crisis. While this is certainly not what any of us want, the amount of teamwork, community outreach,  and group effort that this has taken is tremendous, and I wanted you all to know that your efforts have not gone unnoticed. I know you’re working hard, doing the best you can, and trying to strive for better the next day. I see how tired you are, the long hours you put in, and the new learning that is happening every day. If no one has told you yet today. I see you! And I know you are doing a fantastic job.

Dr. Austine Etcheverry

I started my educational career as a 1:1 paraprofessional for a student who was blind and had a cognitive impairment. After this amazing opportunity, I decided teaching was my passion. In 2007 I became a certified special education teacher and taught 5th – 8th grade resource. Throughout my career in education, I have held various leadership roles such as a technology coach, an exceptional needs coach and an IEP coordinator. Three years ago, I decided to begin pursuing my National Board Certification and was fortunate enough to achieve in December 2018. I currently have the privilege of being the principal in the Avondale Elementary School District at a school for students with an emotional disability. I have my own social media company where I write and create dental blogs. I have also had the honor of publishing articles in a dental magazine as well as published a young adult science fiction series. In December 2018, I became a certified yoga instructor and recently completed my Doctorate in Education Leadership and Administration from Aspen University.