Respect for Teachers???

I wrote this and didn't send it. It is three months from the end of the school year and Clark County is still 430 teachers short. I am weary.

Dear Senator

I am writing in response to today's article in the LVRJ and your comments about high teacher turnover in Clark County.
I am in my fifth year of teaching. I have seen many teachers leave the district. I work for a great Principal who is retiring this year. She probably would have stayed longer if the expectations for her yearly goals were a little more realistic.
I work for an at risk school. We have made great strides in the past three years and for the first time in thirty years our school is off the "failed" list.
Last year we had two second grade teachers leave during the year. Another second grade teacher had to go on an extended maternity leave.

This year I have many of those students in my class. They had long term substitutes. They came into third grade lacking the knowledge they needed to prepare for third grade. The students lacked discipline and consistancy. A whole year of intermittent substitutes followed by long term subs who may have done their best but had little awareness of what was needed.
My students have made great progress considering where they were at the beginning of the year. They have so much more to learn.

I love teaching. If you asked most teachers why they do it they will tell you it is because they believe in our profession and are committed to our students' learning.

Teaching is a challenging profession. So many variables affect how and when children learn.
I am feeling so demoralized by the attitude of those who do not spend time in the classroom.
This year our legislators need to come and spend a few days at an at risk school and observe learning. Not just one day. You all really need to see how all these variables affect student learning and teachers ability to teach.
I believe money is an important equation in quality education. Money to education, money so educators can live-but I also believe teachers would stay or come here to work if they received more respect and support from the community.
I am so weary of reading criticisms about incompentent teachers when the district does not have the money needed to provide the supplies and curriculum materials needed for children.
When children in my classes have no health care and teeth are rotted or they need glasses. When children come into my room in the morning to tell me parents have not come at night-or their parents had a violent fight.
I am tired when I work two jobs to support my daughter and myself and housing and groceries are so high we can't take a vacation to LA let alone on an airplane.

I haven't thought of leaving the district until I read your comments today. Another year of huge turnover, new teachers, complaints of failure, inadequacy and urgent messages to pay new teachers more to come to our state.
What this means for those of us who stay and work hard is our money is worth less and less each year, we can't afford housing, we work extra jobs and we have to pick up the slack for all those new teachers who walk into our schools in their learning curves.
Pay me so I can work one job. Keep my coworkers the same way. Treat us well for being loyal professionals willing to remain committed to our kids in Nevada. Don't insult us by another two percent raise. Give me a living wage. Campus police make more in starting salary than I do after five years of teaching with a Masters Degree.
I'm feeling discouraged. Maybe it is time for me to move from Las Vegas as well. Maybe my exit interview will be one you read next year.