Welcome to Jen's Pond

  Photo by Gabor Szucs on Unsplash I love social media for its ability to keep me connected to people I met years ago at camp and now using it to keep connected to others I meet in my work and day to day life. Connection is what I think a lot of people want, and yet, with angry sharing on social media, we seem to just make people angry and hateful. The digital porch feels less like a place to gather and starting to feel like a stadium where everyone is booing. Our communities are turning into opposing teams. Instead of cheering for the athletes, for a good game, and having a good time supporting teams, we just wait for the other side to seemingly make a mistake.   What breaks my heart the most when I look at comment sections is that the people tearing each other apart don't even know one another. They aren't arguing with a neighbor; they are screaming in writing at someone they most likely don’t know or have ever met.   Our manners, our empathy, and our humanity are gone...

I used to think my future involved  sunglasses & a too cool for school expression, but life is funny. If you had told my elementary self that I’d still be in school decades later, I would have cried. But here I am!  Today, on Teacher Appreciation Day, I have a few very specific thank-yous.  To my past & present teachers: I’m fairly sure you all made it out okay but thank you for the infinite patience, guidance, knowledge, and care.  To my family and friends in the trenches: Your job is a thankless job. Thank you for showing up every day for the students and their families in your charge and for giving it your all. You inspire me. Thank you for showing me that a teacher voice is a legitimate superpower. 🦸‍♂️🦸‍♀️ To my past students: You are still in my heart. I think of you often and hope you’re out there making some 'good trouble.' 🥹 To the young people finding their footing to the adults sharing their stories to change policies that will help ...