Some days, Kathy Harding feels her dedication draining away. She's 28 and sick of putting her expenses on credit cards. A mouse in her classroom closet ruined her art supplies. She had to call the police because one of her students threw desks around the classroom. Then she remembers her principal, always quick to praise and eager to take troublemakers out of the classrooms of busy teachers.
Loyalty wins out.
For me, a lot of it is the kids. Learning the ropes Harding was hired on the spot during her job interview at Harnett Primary three years ago. She had just earned her master's degree from the University of Florida and hadn't found a teaching job. One of her best friends worked at the school and persuaded Harding to apply. Teaching makes Harding feel like a kid again.