Heather Dickinson:
I believe that I have the best job in the world, not for what I put into it, but for what it gives back to me. I work at a non public school called the TERI Learning Academy. I have spent almost 9 years in this school serving children with Autism and other developmental disabilities. The students we serve have “failed” in other programs, yet we allow their potential to be endless, never giving up or losing hope in them. My job allows me to teach my students the tools necessary to live quality lives. From functional skills to academics, I get to help improve the lives of these children in many areas. We have our struggles and our obstacles and at times I’ve felt like giving up, but my students never do, and they push me to be a better educator and role model. I would like to write this knowing that I have taught my students so much, but that simply isn’t true. I have taught them great things, but the reward has been what they have taught me. They have taught me to be patient when I can’t wait. They have taught me to slow down when I’m in a hurry. Most of all they have taught me to be a better teacher and a better person. To simply enjoy life and what we have.
