DN: I am not bitter towards CPS. Almost all of my 26 years with CPS was great. I worked with many super teachers and six very appreciative principals.
JB: I assume you're including all but the last one?
DN: Your assumption is correct. I loved teaching ESL, fourth, fifth, seventh, eighth and Pre-K for my last four years. Every age is interesting and challenging.
JB: Your attitude and enthusiasm are what undoubtedly made you a great teacher and your leaving a loss to the profession. With things going the way they are now, would you encourage someone to become a public school teacher?
DN: From speaking to the teachers I know who are still at it, I know the profession is changing. Especially in urban schools. There are way more demands being made on teachers. The "art" of teaching has now turned into a science.
JB: What do you mean by that?
DN: When I was teaching, I had a lot of autonomy regarding how and what materials I could use. Teaching is more prescriptive and teachers now are scrutinized and evaluated in a very comprehensive way.
JB: Does all that evaluating stifle creativity?
DN: It certainly leaves less room for being creative.
JB: If you were entering the workforce as a college grad, would you consider going into teaching today?
DN: If my classes at college really showed what teaching is like today, I'd probably change majors.
JB: I understand completely. But what a very sad commentary on where we are today. Do you have any pangs with Labor Day fast upon us? Do you still mentally prepare for the beginning of the school year even though it no longer applies to you?
DN: You mean the dreams about getting to school and not having the class roster or knowing which classroom I'm supposed to be in?
JB: Ha! Do you only have those dreams now that you're out of the system or did you have them every fall before the school year started?
DN: I haven't had the dreams since my new career - thankfully. Now I have dreams about mirrors falling off of the walls of my clients!
JB: Hopefully, not on your clients! Thanks so much for talking with me, Dave. Good luck on your new career path.
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