And so it begins. I got an email recently about setup for the Special Olympics. I also got a request for a work recommendation letter and two equipment requests for a gear sign-out I voluntarily run, but those are an everyday response.

As a media production teacher, I get two to three emails a week asking for help photographing and filming various events and projects or setting up tech or the like, and anyone that knows me knows that I always say yes.

Saying yes means staying up late to edit prom pictures because I know how much students want to see them and how happy they are to get them fast.

Saying yes means taking a picture of every single student as they walk across the stage at graduation as a final gift to show how proud I am of their accomplishments.

Saying yes means dancing around all goofy with the students I love on a sound system I help get set up at the Special Olympics.

And I love saying yes. Saying yes makes me happy because it makes others happy. And I know all the things I love to say yes to I was never hired for, but I do them anyway. Because my community says yes to me. It shows me respect and appreciation for what I do on a daily basis.

I have a wall of letters from students, parents and community members who I’ve helped thanking me that brings me joy every day. I have been the recipient of grants that allow me to take my tech programs to the next level year after year. I have been awarded honors and distinctions for my philosophy and approach.

And that’s why it’s so disappointing that this is where the School Committee says no. What we are asking for is to be paid wages more in line with other districts in the Valley. A 3 percet shift of our step scale put us under the value of many surrounding districts, but at least aims at narrowing the gap.

We are now saying no in hopes that you see what the cumulative good we do day after day over what we are contracted to do. And it hurts me. It hurts everyone. Not one student, teacher, administrator, or School Committee member is happy about this.

I’m usually working through my lunch right now with two of our most at-risk students on photography projects that mean the world to them socially and emotionally. Today I’m writing this from my car in the parking lot avoiding a classroom that’s always buzzing this time of day.

For the first time in my career I am sad about work. I’ve felt anxious, frustrated and a multitude of other emotions, but I’ve never felt sad. I hope this goes away soon and I hope other teachers in Northampton never have to feel this way again.

Jeromie Whalen

Northampton

The author is a 2019 Grinspoon Award Recipient.