It is rare that I step outside of the known within this blog to share with you what I share today. It began with my decades long love of art, and my discovery of ‘the Petite Picasso,‘ Alexandra Nechita in 2006. Although I have never been a fan of her type of art – I became a fan of hers. Her story is amazing, but her desire to share much of her work for philanthropic purposes is equally amazing. Some days ago, I discovered one of her early works from 1995 (she was 10 years of age at the time).

…and then, while doing some research about the artwork itself, I discovered a scant piece of writing on a blog from 2011 – and I felt compelled to share this marvelous post with you. It says all that needs to be said. Given what teachers all over America, and specifically those in my home state of Arizona (for the past 42 years), I wanted to share with all – Alexandra Nechita’s art entitled, Tribute to the Teachers. Let the battles begin, fought well and end in Victory for the teachers and students alike. ~ Ed.

I often wonder if anyone really reads my blog. It doesn’t really bother me if people do or don’t. I guess I feel sometimes as if it is more a therapeutic thing for me. Like now for instance. I find it hard to believe that tomorrow is already midterm of the first nine weeks and although I need to be grading and getting those into MMS. I can’t. Right now at this very moment, I simply can’t think. My head is spinning about lesson plans, grading 200 projects that all came due at once (and I am not even joking, it really is 200), keeping certain students busy who I know will find more unproductive things to do if I don’t keep them focused, how we are going to get a float built and powder puff practices run if we don’t have a theme yet for homecoming, getting my art club meeting agenda settled, scheduling a field trip… And on top of all this I have to go home tonight to make supper, check homework, pick up my house, give the four year old a bath, and do laundry. And now you can completely comprehend how one becomes so overwhelmed they can’t do anything. It’s paralyzing.

My husband used to be the one who always thought teaching was so easy. He would laugh at me when I would come home at the end of the day tell him I was exhausted. Then he would reply..its not like you do much except spend time with kids all day. …….No really he has said that to me on more than one occasion.

What I think he and so many people do not understand that a teacher wears hundreds of hats. Hats that mentally exhaust, physically exhaust, and sometimes spiritually exhaust. We are known for being cheerleaders, inspiring and motivating speakers to those students we see everyday. We are the motivation that keeps students going and doing and growing. Sometimes I wish I had a teacher that I kept in my coat pocket that I could pull out, set on my desk, wind them up and let them go. My own little motivation and inspiration when I needed it. My own personal cheerleader.

So many teachers out there feel completely under appreciated. We are asked to raise and educate today’s youth. To instill what values we can with all the underlying “junk” that they already have in them from today’s society. And the minute one of those kids fail, it becomes the educators fault. Sometimes I want to fire back, you try it. It is easy to lay blame, we always need someone to blame or at least we think we do. Perhaps before laying the blame, we need to step back and see the bigger picture. We are not superheros, we are people. Plain ordinary people who love what we do and try our best everyday. Some days are better than others, but still we try. So to all you teachers out there that are sitting at your desk at this very moment, completely overwhelmed and don’t know what to do next, know that I am out there for you. In the land of bloggers. I get it and I get you. You are awesome. Don’t forget it. Oh and thanks for making a difference in the lives of our children today.

Written by Carrieann Phegley and published on her blog Paris Tiger Art ~ September 8, 2011.

Alexandra Nechita, Tribute to the Teachers, 1995