Issue link: http://educator.cta.org/i/635847
≤ Hillary Pedrotti E N G L I S H T E A C H E R Liberty Education Association An English teacher at Heritage High School, Hillary Pedrotti has been teaching nearly three decades in the Liberty Union High School District in Brentwood. She also is technical director for the school's theater department, overseeing the building of sets, costuming and makeup. And, oh yes, she's the president of her union, mentors a student teacher, and has been involved with BTSA (Beginning Teacher Support and Assessment) and other school activities. "Perhaps it's just my ADD talking, but after all these years, I still enjoy coming to work every day," says Pedrotti, 50, who talks a mile a minute and darts across her classroom like a hummingbird. Have a thick skin: I think some teachers take things way too personally. They obsess over things and don't let it go. Let things roll off your shoulders or laugh about it. There will always be something from administration that may be stressful, but don't let that keep you from enjoy- ing your work and your students. Try something new: I'm a lifelong learner. For example, I decided to take on technical the- ater. I had no idea how to do it, but figured I'd learn as I go along. It's been reinvigorating. Give yourself a pat on the back: People don't say thank you very oen, so you have to take appreciation where you can get it. Some- times I'll get a note from a kid at the end of the year that says "Thanks." You know that you are doing a good job. So let your sense of satisfac- tion come from within. She tried to leave. But her heart remained in East Palo Alto. Part of the reason Carla Dickerson continued teaching there is that her father always encouraged her to give back to the commu- nity where she grew up. Ms. D, as she's known at Belle Haven Elementary School, has taught in the Ravenswood School District for 31 years. East Palo Alto is a low-socioeconomic community with many challenges, but she likes teaching where she is needed most. Dickerson is 55 and enjoying herself more than ever. And while she may be a veteran, she views herself as a work in progress. Think positive: I don't like to be around negative people, because it drains your energy. I like to keep it positive and offer encouragement to others. I tell my students to persevere and follow their dreams and not be deterred if things don't go right. I ask them to think about what they can do to fix something and turn a mess into magic. I try to do the same for me, too. Stay involved: I've been a member of the executive board, treasurer and membership chair of my union, and now I'm a site rep. Being involved in the union keeps you feeling energized. I love being able to help other teachers and explain that yes, we can make it through this. Embrace change: I avoid burnout by working closely with col- leagues and collaborating with them. Sometimes teachers can be a little bit resistant to changes at first, such as Common Core. But when you work together, you can move forward and push through it by brainstorming. Carla Dickerson F I F T H - G R A D E T E A C H E R Ravenswood Teachers Association 21 February 2016