What I'm trying to keep straight.

Tomorrow starts a new semester of graduate classes, Monday - Thursday 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm. The circles under my eyes don't stand a chance. Exhaustion.

One of my cheerleaders brought me a card, a blanket to represent warmth from her family and a $15 Starbucks card. Her mother signed the card with "Your loss, God's gain!" Precious.

I'm not giving my students a semester final exam because I want them to catch up with the other classes and I am required to incorporate broadcasting themed lesson plans to keep our funding for the magnet program. These topics aren't on the End Of Instruction Exams. Frustrating.

I've applied to multiple summer jobs with Teach For America. If I get one I will put grad school on hold for the summer semester, continue to work towards ending educational inequity, and earn some monies. Excited!

Vipe Magazine - a local sports magazine that typically uses photos of OU cheerleaders - took pictures of my squad at an away game, and not the home squad! Proud.

I taught myself how to do a flip turn in the pool! Chicka chicka.


One of my friends knitted this for me for Christmas! Blessed.

Exhaustion. Precious. Frustrating. Excited! Proud. Chicka chicka. Blessed. It's just the tip of the iceberg my friends.

Clif bars and hospital floors.

This is how I spent my New Years Eve. They told me to tell my grandmother goodbye because the pump was the only thing keeping her alive, despite her surgeon's proclamation that he was a "kick-ass surgeon." I forgot that I could cry like that until I saw her.

I told her goodbye and I loved her.

I told her my scarves look like shit and I need her to rip the knots out.

I said the Benediction with her.

Two hours later my grandma became responsive. I read Psalms to her. When she mouthed the word water the RN brought a sponge on a stick. I couldn't help but think of Christ and "I thirst." I told her stories about my students. I told her I'm going to do her hair for her, (my aunt suggested purple, that was quickly rejected with a vigorous head shake). We upgraded to spray bottles. I held her hand. I tried to read a little non-fiction, but she wanted a romance novel! I sprayed water into her mouth when she mouthed the word "thirsty." I watched her mouth the words "I love you, too" around her breathing tube to people as they came in and said goodnight. I told her "I'm sorry, but we can't yet" when she mouthed the word "drink." I saw the hole in her chest the size of two fists. We watched the ball drop in New York. I played with her hair. I sprayed water into her mouth when she mouthed the word "thirsty." I kissed my grandma. The RNs "strongly recommended" I leave the room.

It's funny how my mom needs a cigarette when she can't breath.

I felt like I was left to suffer hope.

"The only infallible truth of our lives is that everything we love in life will be taken from us."

We all got to hold her while they turned the pumps off. We told my grandma she looked pretty. We lied. She looked beyond beautiful. My grandpa told her he was taking her dancing when she got better, that she was his baby, that he loved her more than anything. We said the Lord's Prayer and I said the Benediction one last time.

I didn't cry until her heart stopped and we left the room. I erupted. It was volcanic - violent and hot. I made people uncomfortable.

Happy New Year

How I've used some of my free time.

Free time?! Yeah... I said it. Oooo Oooo!

The boys and I played in some paint.

This is how we write stuff....

And this....



Charitable Giving


My Uncle was kind enough to help. (I love that my family supports this type of stuff - note his hair.)


And DONE!


Spicy Pumpkin Soup and Pumpkin Biscuits for 10

Not pictured:
Family Hugs
Prayers for my Grandma who taught me how to crochet on Thanksgiving (she has internal bleeding and had two heart attacks Tuesday)
Christmas Tree Decorating

I. Miss. ______.

I miss my family (for only 2 more days!).

I miss Harbin (not particularly in the winter).

I miss days where I do only what I want (however, I love my job to death).

I miss my previous roommates (although I enjoy walking around naked).

I miss the Colts winning (and the Pats losing).

I miss traveling around and being a waif (it's nice to know where all my things are... or have things for that matter).

I miss...

Having things to miss far exceeds having nothing good to remember.

Pump, pump, pump it up.

Tuesday I was asked to plan a pep rally for today (it's Thursday). I'm not sure if you've ever planned a pep rally, (I hadn't), but I was quite sure it would take more than 40 hours to put one together. Particularly when the coordinator has a 3 hour final and a basketball game to attend the night before. I scrambled to call basketball moms, acquire equipment from middle schools, and choreograph something for the dance girls - all while getting my grades in and holding IEP meetings.

The Agenda:

11:40 - Welcome from Ms. Hering

11:41 - Webster High School Band
*Sobre Todo
*Victory March
*Battle Cry - cheerleaders throw bleacher cushions to the crowd

11:47 - Cheer Squad Competition Cheer and Stunting

11:50 - Dance Team Whip my Hair

11:53 - Introduce Men's and Women's Basketball teams with spirit line of cheer/dance members
(For the music we used the Women's Basketball Coach's rap song about T-Dub and our teams.)

12:03 - Kiss the Player
(A senior basketball player was selected to be blind folded have a cheerleader kiss him on the cheek. He completely hammed it up by putting on chap-stick... little did he know I had his mother hide in the back and come out to give him a kiss instead.)

12:06 - Relay Races between grades for the Spirit Stick
(The seniors won due to the juniors inability to remain on their scooters, and the freshmen and sophomore's stage fright.)

12:16 - Principal's Address

12:18 - Close - Webster High School Band
*Alma Mater

My principal informed me that this was a huge improvement over what usually occurs at pep rallies , (despite the fact that I felt I could have done significantly better), and said he would put in for an activities coordinator position - which I would be offered. (Extra money, sweet!)

Honestly, that was not the best part of it all. Besides the roaring laughter and genuine enjoyment the students seemed to get from all of this, I received the following text from a colleague:

"Hey I want to congratulate you on the great job you did today and the job you have done with the cheer and dance squad. Today was the first day that I actually felt like the students here at (high school name) are proud of their class mates and to be (school mascot)s. I think that is a reflection and result of the energy and passion you bring to (school name) and the student body."

Totally worth every ounce of exhaustion.

You raise me up.

One of my colleagues just stopped me in the hall:

"Ms. Hering, I would just love to pick your brain sometime. My students have a lot of needs and as a first-year counselor... well especially with my special needs students I just need ideas. I was talking with Mrs. ____ and she said ' You know who has it going on? She's young but she always seems to have great ideas. Ms. Hering.' "

On Monday one of my Geometry classes informed me of this:

"Mr. ___ is actually teaching. He says ' we have to teach like Ms. Hering now if we want to keep our jobs.' "

Some days I never, EVER want this to end. God is lifting me up today and I feel blessed to have the opportunity to impact my students and those around me who impact students.

Final Countdown:

1 day until the TFA holiday party and observatory star party.

2 days until dance competition in Oklahoma City with my girls.

5 days until my Stats final that I MUST get a B on to not retake the class, (at the graduate level if I have anything lower than a B I'm required to retake the course.)

8 days until I know for certain if I'm shaving my head (my students need to raise $220 more dollars).


11 days until I see my family!





20 days until I play a show with my little brother and cousin.

Everything looks perfect from far away.

I am never bored because - no matter how creative I like to pretend I am - I could never make this stuff up.

One of my students was using dip in my class - IN MY CLASS. I made them spit it out, finish taking notes, and get the homework before I let them get a drink of water. Then I sent them to the office where they received a $100 fine. This student's uncle also got into a fight with their aunt after parent night due to his alluding to my appearance being the reason this student was successful in math.

Classroom dialogue. Apply an overly sweet tone when you read my quotes. I approach every situation like that - which makes me, (wrongfully), feel like I can say exactly what I want without remorse.

*screaming* "I'm an atheist and I don't give a F__"
"Wait, what does that have to do with Algebra?"
*screaming* "All my life people try to teach me things and I can do it on my own."
"(Student name), but this answer isn't correct. I can teach you this if you let me."
"You just do this for the money."
"I actually took a pay cut to be here."
*mumbling* "F__ you, I know my rights. The Bill of Rights says I can choose to get an education if I want to. It's my right." *stands with knuckles on desk until referred to dean's office*

"What would you do if I showed up to your door with a bottle of wine?"
"Disgusting. I'd pretend I'm not home and sneak out the back door."
"What if it's champagne though?!"

"I don't want you to hit me Ms. Hering."
"Awe! I'd never hit you!" "/
"The only thing she hits is her boyfriend."

Walking between buildings:
"Hey, he 18."
"Excuse me?"
"I said he 18. He tryin' to holler at you."
"Come here boys."
"What? He wont tell nobody."
"Repulsive. I am a teacher and you will approach me in an appropriate manner. Do we need to go talk to (principal's name)?" *opens door for students to enter school*
"Ugh my knee hurts" *holds knee, walks in and looks down*
"I'm sure that's not all that hurts. Have a great day!"

"I like your panty hose, Ms. Hering. You actually match today."

"Ms. Hering, you toooo tiiiight man. You needa getchu a boyfriend. Loosen you up."
"We are not discussing the state of my vagina in this classroom. "

I don't let students use the restroom during my class. Period. One student even asked the principal about it during an assembly with around 500 students:
"What if your teacher NEVER lets you use the bathroom in class?" *looks directly at Ms. Hering*
"Boo. Hoo."
I love my administration and I tell them so.

However; when 75% of my class looked distraught one day, (we're on block scheduling), this is what ensued:
"If you eff this up, we will never, EVER use the bathroom again during class."
"Ms. Hering, I bet yooz a G."

"Why you look like that Ms. Hering?"
"I'm sick today."
"Whatchu got?"
"I think it's food poisoning. So I'm not contagious."
"Pregnant people be throwin' up a lot too." *phone vibrates* "Oooo that cho baby daddy?"

"If you net $5,000 a week then..."
"You sell drugs."

Despite all of the learning that appears to not happen in my classroom: my Geometry class is further along than one of the general ed classes AND at a 72% mastery, my fellow Algebra teacher sarcastically said "it's going to be great when your kids do better on the EOIs than mine," and my Math of Finance class has raised almost $200 on their own through advertising and sales techniques, (and there are only 2 students that frequent that class).