why teachers matter
For more than 15 years, I have had the privilege of serving in the educational space, working with teachers, administrators, and students all over the world. And over that time, I have noticed a clear difference between a regular teacher, a seasoned teacher, and a next-level teacher. A next-level teacher is not defined by years of service or titles on a door. A next-level teacher is someone who goes above and beyond for their students. Someone who teaches by faith and not by sight. Someone who sees potential before performance and purpose before problems.
I know this personally because I was once the student many people had already written off. I was born without my biological father. My mother had me when she was just 16 years old. I grew up in poverty and instability, moving from Texas to Atlanta, then to East Orange, New Jersey, Plainfield, New Jersey, and eventually Huntsville, Alabama, all within about five years. Every school I attended, I struggled academically and emotionally. By the time I reached ninth grade, I was repeating it for the third time. On paper, I was the definition of a lost cause.
But during that third attempt at ninth grade, something changed. I encountered a group of teachers who did not just teach me content, they spoke life into me. They did not treat me like a charity case. They did not say, look at the poor Black kid without his dad who has ADHD. Instead, they said, you are talented, you are gifted, you are smart, and we expect more from you. They held me accountable. Their correction was stern, but I could feel that it came from a pure place. They cared enough to challenge me, and that made all the difference.
One of the most powerful lessons I learned from those educators was the importance of energy and empathy. They brought positive energy into the classroom every single day. They showed empathy without lowering the standard. I could feel that they genuinely cared about me, not just as a student, but as a human being. Because I saw how much they sacrificed and how much they truly believed in me, I began to care about myself. Their belief system spoke life into me. Because they saw greatness in me, I eventually learned how to see greatness in myself. That belief changed how I showed up, how I focused, and how I valued education.
Because I responded to their positive energy and their empathy, I responded to education, and I evolved. I caught up to my grade level, graduated from high school on time, and went on to earn both my bachelor’s and master’s degrees. Now, more than 15 years later, I am honored to serve educators and administrators heading into 2026, teaching them how to teach by faith and not by sight. I know what happens when students are judged by transcripts, behavior records, or first impressions. I also know what happens when teachers see the best in a student and speak life into them. To every educator who shows up every day for the most troubled students, thank you. I was once that child. And look at what your love, your empathy, and your energy can produce.