Hope To Alaska : A Blog from the Bench

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 As an educator for over twenty years, I have learned the painful parts of the work they do not teach in educational methods courses.  The mourning and grief, which comes with losing students and fellow educators, and some of the most gut-wrenching loss is when it is by suicide. When you get a license to teach in Alaska, you are required to take classes in Suicide Prevention courses, and there are mental health supports available through grants for schools. However, the continued loss of educators and students (or their families) highlights this is not enough to stop this epidemic of hurt. 

Therefore, I am reaching out to all my fellow educators today. I want you to know that you matter. I truly believe you get into this profession because you love kids, and you want to make a positive impact on the world. I also know there are many days the work and the policy can get in the way of learning, and you can feel like your hands are tied. You can give all your time and energy to your students and then crawl home feeling guilty that your family gets the leftovers. There are days when you can lose hope and faith in the profession you love. However, it does not have to be this way. I want to help give you some ideas about healthy harmony and management, and would be happy to have a coffee chat about ways to allow education to be part of you and not consume all of you.  Yet, there is a greater message than education I want to share today.

                                                   

 I am writing to point you to the Hope-Dealer, the one who can handle all of your burdens from the classroom, family, and life, and His name is Jesus. He is the only one who understands it all. He wants to love you and wants a relationship with you. He desires to take your pain and to carry you through this season of life as you draw near to Him. He has placed people around you to help navigate the day -to-day and to offer compassion that shines in the shadows. 

If any of you feel hopeless or like suicide is an answer to the pain or emotions trying to take over, it is a lie of the enemy. There is hope in Jesus Christ and His Church. We want to walk with you and love you through this. If you need counseling, we can help with that at ACF Church through Hope to Alaska.  This is a free counseling service for anyone who needs it. 

Please share this message with all your educator friends, your students, and their families. Let me know how I can be praying for you. If you are a teacher, share a prayer request, or share ways you destress in the comments below.  If you have had a teacher in your life who greatly impacted you, reach out and let them know how they made a difference in your life. And, if you need hope reach out to Hope-to-Alaska! 

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