"My classroom consumes my life. It is my calling. I tell my kids I love them every day."
Kindergarten teacher Tina DuBrock wants to make a difference.
From Indiana, she took to Facebook to share the importance of mental health teaching in school, and how she is planning on helping her students.
"I have been losing a lot of sleep lately," she began. "My news feed is full of school shootings, school safety plans, gun control debates, and arming teachers."
For DuBrock she is not just teaching children, she is shaping them.
"I shape children. I am their first step out of the home. I can make school a place they want to be and teach them that learning can be fun. I choose to do so."
She treats her students like her own.
"My students become my kids. I worry about them day and night. I am one of their biggest advocates. I want them to succeed not just for a test score but as a person. Each year I am lucky enough to get to know a new bunch of kids but I try and keep in the lives of past students. I make sure I know my kids. I meet them at the door every morning to greet them and ensure they are starting the day positive or check in on them per say."
Throughout her years teaching, she has encountered many difficult situations, which are now unfortunately part of the "sad norm":
"Over the years I’ve had children that have been abused, neglected, a parent or both parents in jail, more parents that have been terminally ill then I can count, and children that have lost a parent to illness and a few to suicide. Other students come in with parents that are inflicted with addictions, depression, and other mental illnesses. Some come in with high anxiety to a point where they already see a weekly specialist."
She wants to make a change, so she started an after school yoga and mindfulness programme. Over a hundred children signed up. She calls it her "first step" to change children's lives.
"I am here to do my part to start a movement to prioritise mental health education in schools. It needs to be a part of our day. Self management, growth mindset, social awareness, respect, and responsibility need to be taught in the schools."
Due to budgeting restrictions, the school could not provide funding for the programme, so DuBrock took matters into her own hands. She put together a wish-list of children's self-help and mental health books.
According to the Chicago Tribune, within two hours after she posted her request, 54 books were purchased. Just days later the total books numbered 175.
"It was Christmas in my room today. Humbled by generosity is putting it mildly," DuBrock said. "I am beyond grateful for this phenomenal support."
Just goes to show what superheroes teachers are!
