I Love my Job: at East Ridge High School and Middle School

Teaching can be one of the most rewarding jobs, but it can also be one of the most stressful and trying of all professions. You are not just a teacher and a coach, but you fill the role of a custodian, a doctor/nurse, a psychologist, a manager, a computer geek and many more that I could easily list.

The most rewarding aspect of teaching, however, is the ability to make a difference in someone’s life. This in itself can override any of the negative side effects of teaching. Trust me when I say there are numerous things that frustrate most teachers.

Most teachers feel that you can’t really teach anymore because of all of the other things we must do in order to meet the State and Federal requirements. For example, we assess and test everything, so that we can provide data to assess in a different way the next year. Nevertheless, teaching can warm your soul in a way that makes you forget about your own limitations and gives you a sense of belonging to everyone in your community. It can also make you respect and appreciate your own life even more because you are a first hand witness of families that are in great need and despair.

Every job has its ups and downs, which makes getting up in the morning either extremely difficult or oddly easy. The ingredients to being happy in a career in education are having a great work environment that is made by other teachers who are striving towards the same goal, as well as working with great administrators providing an atmosphere that makes you feel safe.

These are common attributes that will either keep someone at a job or drive anyone from their jobs. With teaching, every day is different but yet the same. A teacher who wants to be successful and efficient will work harder than they have ever worked before. This is why we get the summers off to deprogram ourselves from the 60-70 hour work weeks that we put in for ten months. Everyone wants to be a teacher during the summer, but only a few of the stubborn will withstand it the other ten months of the year.

I am blessed to be a part of this business and to work at East Ridge High School. I also understand the sacrifices a family must make in order for someone to be successful in this business. My wife Shelly and my two daughters Lauren and LeeAnn have always supported me in all the hours that I must put forth to be the very best teacher and coach that I can possibly be.

Brad Jackson

10th Grade World History Academic Honors

Head Wrestling Coach at East Ridge High School

Head Football Coach at East Ridge Middle School