My name is Erin McBurney and I teach 8th grade U.S. History at Watertown Middle School. I was born and raised in Watertown, South Dakota, and I plan to retire from Watertown Middle School as an 8th grade U.S. History teacher because I love teaching. I love it with my whole heart. I love teaching because it’s so much more than just sharing information with young people. The real craft of teaching is sharing our gift to build meaningful relationships with staff members, students, parents, and our community.
As a history teacher, I have the honor of learning from those who have come before me to build these relationships in my career today. I love historic quotes and have them posted around my classroom at the middle school. A favorite of mine is from Maya Angelou and it reads, “You can’t really know where you’re going, until you know where you’ve been.” Do you remember? Do you remember where you’ve been that made you choose education for your career?
For me, I was fourteen-years-old in Dave Ingalls’ eighth grade U.S. History class at Watertown Middle School. Dave teaches with so much passion, practicality, and purpose that it’s impossible to not be inspired by historical and world events in his class. Dave’s class is a giant story that unfolds, one piece at a time. As an 8th grader, I couldn’t wait for 5th period to hear the next chapter of the story. I remember detailing a battle of the American Revolution for my dad as he jokingly said, “Hey E, who won the Revolutionary War?” And I replied, “I don’t know, we haven’t learned that yet!” That passion led me to my career and I’m forever grateful to Dave. Today, I’m happy to report that I know who won the Revolutionary War and that I get to teach young people about these impactful events that shaped our country and our world. It blew my mind that passionate people could create their own country and government with one idea and a common goal. Each time I look at Maya Angelou’s quote in my classroom, I’m grateful to Dave for inspiring me to find a career in education. And I find a great deal of hope in being part of a similar experience for my students.
To honor another fellow Watertown educator, Steve Olson, who taught U.S. History at Watertown Middle School for over 30 years, I have a quote in my classroom from his favorite president, George Washington. It reads, “It is better to offer no excuse than a bad one.” I believe I earned a top-notch education in Watertown; one that challenged me and taught me the power of perseverance without excuses. I attended Immaculate Conception grade school where Denise Hoff changed the course of my academics. I was behind in reading when I entered her 3rd grade class. She made no excuses and she allowed no excuses in her classroom. She boosted my confidence, worked with me individually, and as a result, instilled in me a work ethic that has carried me through my educational career. Today, I might be the slowest reader when our principal Dr. Brist shares professional development articles, but I know what they mean! Mrs. Hoff never gave up on me.
Another great example of Washington’s quote was my experience in Kris O’Brien’s AP English class at Watertown High School. Her class is still the most difficult class I’ve ever taken. She did what great teachers do. She walked with us through difficult content. I’ll never forget when she passed back our first attempt at the AP Exam. She stood at the front of her classroom, she folded her hands together, closed her eyes, and made no excuses for us. She simply said, “You guys. These are not good. So, we are going to try it again.” And we did. Again and again until we demonstrated our ability to analyze and interpret literary text. Denise and Kris fostered intelligent thinking and didn’t allow students to make excuses. Great teachers. Great teachers are honest with students. They walk with students through difficult times and difficult content. They allow students to discover their own greatness.
Finally, my favorite quote in my classroom is from Eleanor Roosevelt. Her words are proudly displayed behind my presidential bobblehead collection. During World War II, she told the country, “You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You must do the thing you think you cannot do.” My first teaching job was at Whittier Middle School in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. My team leader was a woman named Mary Ball. We connected over the fact that her first three years of teaching were spent as a Watertown Arrow at Watertown Middle School from 1987-1990. Mary taught me everything I know about teaching. To this day, I still call her when I’m struggling with a student’s behavior. When I left Whittier, I asked her, “What will I do without Mary Ball?” Her response was, “There are Mary Ball’s in every building. You just have to find them.”
She was right. The community we create as educators is powerful. When we find the joy in education and work as a team, it’s magical. Leaning in to try a new idea, having confidence to share an opinion in a staff meeting, and knocking on a classroom door to meet a new teacher are all risky experiences I’m glad I’ve taken in my career. As a result, I have the honor of leading our Sunshine Committee at WMS. And while it can be a hassle at times, I don’t regret it. I’ve never regretted building community on my staff because what I put out there has been given back to me ten times over, even when I’m walking through the fire. Eleanor Roosevelt also said, “ You must do the thing you think you cannot do.” For me, I must give the speech. I must teach the kid that drives me nuts. I must apologize to students and colleagues when I’ve gotten too fired up. I must call the parent. I must be willing to speak up in staff meetings. I must build community with my coworkers. There is strength, courage, and confidence waiting for me when I do. The fear is real, but the payout is worth it because the difficult student makes me a better teacher, making amends to students and colleagues makes me a better person, calling parents makes me a better community member, sharing my opinion and asking my principal for ideas has fostered a professional relationship that makes me so proud to say I work for Dr. Brist at Watertown Middle School.
Acknowledging the impactful people who have come before me can teach a powerful lesson in my current position. This school year, may you be a student’s Dave Ingalls. May you inspire a student so much they can’t wait to begin their career. May you be a student’s Denise Hoff and Kris O’Brien. May you never give up on a kid and may you walk with them through difficult educational experiences. May you be the Mary Ball to a colleague. May you bring joy, passion, and excitement to your building to remember the importance of community. May you find the strength, courage, and confidence to do the thing you think you cannot do. Because that’s the heart of Watertown, right? Strength, courage, and confidence in education. Strength, courage, and confidence to fulfill Abraham Lincoln’s quote, “Whatever you are, be a good one.”
I’m wishing all of my fellow middle grades educators a wonderful school year!
Erin McBurney is a teacher at Watertown Middle School, an AMLE School of Distinction and the Watertown School District Teacher of the Year.