Lent Devotional – Through The Struggles

Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved,  clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.  Colossians 3:12 NIV

This year marks my 25th year in public education which is so hard for me to believe! I come from a very long line of educators who collectively have well over 350 years of education experience. When I went to college my logical brain was telling me to pick another career path, because I knew from first-hand experience that teaching was not an easy path. About midway in my college journey, I found myself changing my major to education. It was in my blood…I couldn’t deny it…or the fact that God was gently nudging me in that direction.

I spent 10 years as a third-grade teacher and then one year in a role as an intervention teacher who helped students that needed additional support in math or reading. I love that intervention role; however, reluctantly I was thrust into my current position as a Campus Intervention Specialist. In a nutshell, I help determine general education accommodations for students with certain disabilities such as ADHD, Dyslexia, or health conditions, I coordinate all campus assessments with the biggest one being STAAR, and I coordinate meetings between teachers and parents when kids are struggling and we need to determine a way to help. Yep! It is a big job!

When I was put into this role, I did not feel equipped at all to have really tough conversations with parents about the struggles their children were having. It didn’t take me long to figure out that sharing the truthful struggles could be made a little easier when delivered with empathy and kindness. Many times the same truthful conversation has to patiently be shared multiple times before it is fully heard. Other times those truthful conversations have to start out in a gentle way so that trust can be built over time. And sometimes the fact that I can say with compassion that I know what we are talking about is difficult but we are there to support the whole family goes a long way.

I’ve seen the guidance we are given in Colossians 3:12 carried out more often than I can count through the multitude of educators in my life. The counselor who listens with compassion as a student shares the anxieties that are weighing her down. The educator who with the utmost gentleness shares with me the struggles my own child is working through. The humility of every teacher of the year winner who notes that they don’t work on an island but alongside a team of other amazing educators. The school receptionist who patiently waits for the late parent to pick up a child while creating fun conversation so the child doesn’t worry about the tardiness of their parent. The campus administrator who with kindness reminds a student who made a bad decision that tomorrow is a new day and a new start. In reality, there is no way we could get through a single day in the education world without seeing God at work and the teachings of Jesus in action.

Amber Gallimore

Campus Intervention Specialist, Boon Elementary, Allen ISD