Crackhead on my Porch

I'm not trying to be funny or insensitive, but yes, I found a crackhead on my way out to my portable this morning at school. I was pushing my cart o technology out to my room, looked to the right, and saw this guy....

Now, I call him a 'crackhead' because that is what all of my students called him as they came into class this morning. "Ms. Kalina...did you see the crackhead outside?" I have gotten a little bit used to the craziness of the neighborhood and situation in which I teach......the stories and attidudes and things that I see have stopped being so shocking and overwhelming. Today, though, when I saw this man...my heart broke. There are men and women in our city that are addicted, lost, homeless, hurting, pregnant at 15, angry, and hopeless. I pray that this picture forever reminds me to fight for the lives and hopes of the people I have been entrusted with. I pray that this picture refuses to let me forget to love on the people around me. God is good....and he loves that crackhead outside of my school......and he loves even me.

I promise I actually teach.

Ok, so I really do teach.....I swear. But, I mean, come on...who posts videos of themselves teaching angles or the properties of multiplication? No one. Amanda, this is the kid that sang Beyonce's 'Listen' out on my portable porch when he was pissed at me. Ha ha ha....I had a small class this day because a large group of students were in an assembly so we took a few minutes to share some talent. Ha ha....sorry it's sideways...I forgot that I can't rotate. What a special character...

I also started off my Spring break heading to Atlanta with 120 of our top students for 3 days. We had a great time....I really enjoy spending time outside of school with these kids. Here are pictues of my group of girls on the trip.