Open House "The Calling"

I don't think i have had a more powerful conviction in life than my calling to teach. I considered so many options as a child but most of them were ludacris at best. Like my dream to become a bus driver. Who the hell dreams to be a bus driver?!?! Luckily I returned back to teaching.
Something made me gravitate to this job offer. I originally had a position offered to me from KIPP Academy Nashville. It paid well, had the benefits I needed, and generally provided me with the opportunity to make a difference (which is all teacher's cliche reasoning for teaching). However I turned this position down to be unemployed for a month, be unsure of my salary, and lose a month of my summer for this new position. Why? Only God knows, but I felt so strongly that this where the Lord wanted me to be. So I originally took this position under the impression that I would be teaching Algebra 1, Geometry, and Grammar Composition. COOL! BET! Until i got a phone call a week later saying "Mr. Stanley, do you think you could teaching every subject?" A self-contained class of all boys is now my teaching assignment. I will teach Algebra 1, English 9, Grammar & Composition, Physical Science, and World History. LOL. Sounds intense? Well it is but luckily the curriculum we are using comes with lesson plans.
Our Open House was last night and the parents learned about how this school would operate. Extended school year, extended school day, learning in portables, etc. As I gave some information, I began to watch the facial expressions on the parents faces. Some disapproving but others had a face of despair. This school is the saving grace for many of these children. These parents want the best for their children and have either been denied access to the finer schools Nashville has to offer or are terrified about the possible outcomes their child has from attending schools within the district. After talking to several parents last night, I felt a very strong conviction. One that has me both anxious and excited, but also nervous and worried. This is my first year as a teacher and as much as I think I know, there is so much I don't. I want these parents to see their children meet the goals and better lives they desire and I honestly don't know how to do that. That's the most frightening thing to me. These parents are trusting me to give their children the best education there is to offer. So I left last night with a lot of emotions but the one that lingered the strongest I think is gratefulness. God, my "principal", my colleagues, my friends, these parents all see the greatness in me that I don't always see. I'm grateful for this opportunity. These boys' success and failures will be the direct result of my work ethic and in my class no one fails.