In 2009, a National Education Association report showed nearly 50 percent of teachers leave the profession within five years.
National studies show reasons people quit range from issues with principals and students to inadequate salaries.
Many local first-year teachers are approaching the finish line of their first year and are reflecting on the past few months.
“It’s like we ran a race,” said Lesley Smith, first grade teacher at Pink Hill Elementary School. “(The students) are a lot more independent. It’s an accomplishment they made it this far.”
When the group marched into her classroom last fall, they were barely reading. Smith said the children are now proficient in the books.
“I’ve seen how much they’ve grown and how much they learned,” said Smith, a Pink Hill native who began teaching as part of family tradition.
David Miles, a music teacher at La Grange Elementary School, based his career choice on impacts of his former teacher.
“When I was younger, my teachers had a really, really big influence on me,” said Miles, a Washington, D.C. native. “I wanted to have that influence on others as well.”
For Miles, the challenge this year was establishing himself as an adult among elementary school students. Nationally, 32 percent of teachers are male, and 600,000 are under 30-years-old, compared to more than 1 million who are at least 50. He said since he looks young, students would address him informally.
“They want to call you ‘bro,’ and you can do that a little,” Miles said. “(Establishing yourself) is one of the hardest things.”
From a different perspective, Keith C. Parnell, in his first year at Jones Senior High School, said establishing yourself and gaining trust among students takes respect — from both parties.
“Respect is a two-way street,” said Parnell, a retired U.S. Air Force pilot. “I really try to respect them and they, in turn, respect me. It also takes time; you’re not going to gain their trust immediately.”
He works with grades 9-12 at the high school, teaching aerospace science.
“Teaching is a calling,” said Parnell, who was prepared for his new position as his wife is an elementary school educator.
The main teaching assignment for first-year teachers is elementary education, according to a National Education Association report. Through working with youngsters, local teacher Lenoir County Schools teachers found how students interact with them surprising.
Donna Smith, a fifth grade teacher at Moss Hill Elementary School, said the classroom environment differs from her childhood.
“I just thought that the students would be more … in awe of a teacher like I was when I went to school,” she said. “It’s not that way anymore. They treat you more as a peer than an elder or someone in a profession.”
She said students are comfortable approaching her with peer-type conversations, but she thinks it can be a good thing to align with the 21st century learning standards.
Under newly-implemented Common Core curriculum in North Carolina, students are more responsible for applying themselves. Teachers have taken on a facilitator role in addition to other obligations.
Lesley Smith said learning Common Core instruction on top of standard duties has made her first year overwhelming.
While some people think teaching is a regular 9-to-5 work schedule, first-year educators said instruction is always on their minds.
“On a Chili’s napkin one night, I made my line order,” said Megan Hendrick, second grade teacher at Northeast Elementary School. “I was having second graders having trouble with forming the line.”
She said the next day, she implemented her after-hours line plan.
Miles said teachers can’t simply turn off their jobs, while his colleagues agreed.
“It’s 24/7,” Donna Smith said. “I get there at seven in the morning, I leave at five and I work until 10:30 every night. I know I need my rest but still in the middle of the night wake up and think of the kids.”
Forming a bond with their students has made the job worth while for the classroom rookies, even though they’ll start fresh with a new bunch in August.
“I think it’s incredibly humbling to know you’re creating a safe haven for students,” Hendrick said. “They might not be getting encouragement, they might not be getting consistency, but you’re able to provide this environment for at least six or seven hours.
“It’s a consistent caring environment.”
According to the U.S. Department of Education, there are more than 3 million teachers in America.
The local ones have learned the special bond they can create with the students, Donna Smith even saying you will find yourself tearing up with some of them. They said there teacher-student relationships must have unyielding balance.
But sometimes, the students are personally key motivation for the teachers.
“Going in the morning some days you know you don’t want to get up,” Lesley Smith said, “but when you get there, the children just make it all better.”
Jessika Morgan can be reached at 252-559-1078 or at jessika.morgan@kinston.com. Follow her on Twitter @JessikaMorgan