Cheri McKinney

A trauma-informed educator & ally for change. MS AP, Wrangler of 5th graders, lover of coffee.

[Cheri McKinney @TI_educator]

Mr. Harman & I are looking forward to learning new tools from @SolutionTree for our 5th grade plc. #okaled #atPLC

[Cheri McKinney @TI_educator]

@James409Jason Nope.

[Cheri McKinney @TI_educator]

I may be exhausted. I may have had a really hard day. But despite all of that, I was able to reach students & teach them something new. This year is hard, but I am making a difference. #oklaed

[Cheri McKinney @TI_educator]

At the #ASCD conference in Chicago this weekend, I sat in a session by Dr. Jen Johnson in educator burnout & compassion fatigue. She taught us to build compassion satisfaction by creating ways to remember our positive feelings & effectiveness in our jobs #oklaed #publiced

[Cheri McKinney @TI_educator]

Before I was an AP, I was an ELA teacher. Math is NOT my thing. Today’s effectiveness/positive feeling was successfully teaching a class of 5th graders on how to identify divisors. Afterwards, one S said, “That was a weird way to explain it, but it worked”. #oklaed

[Cheri McKinney @TI_educator]

Our dog is having health problems & we don’t have answers. The small kindness of strangers today meant so much. Thank you to the barista @MyStellaNova & the cashier @qdoba. Your kind words & gestures were so appreciated. The small acts are never too small.

[Pastors for Oklahoma Kids @pastors4OKkids]

No ESA Vouchers.

No defunding #OklaEd public schools.

No more defrauding taxpayers.

Enough.

[Cheri McKinney @TI_educator]

So I’m listening to the @sharon_says_so podcast episode on crypto$ & I’ve never felt so old &confused. No, don’t come talk to me about crypto. I’m just understanding what my grandma must have felt about Facebook. 🤦🏻‍♀️

[Cheri McKinney @TI_educator]

We just aren’t talking to other parents about it because we feel this guilt & we think it makes us bad parents. If we would have these conversations, we would learn that the parents next to us are struggling too. Our kids are going to be alright, but this year has been brutal.

[Cheri McKinney @TI_educator]

I’ve had a ton of conversations this year w/ parents about their kid’s where the parents ask me if their kid is the only one who is having a rough time/being difficult/exhibiting bad behavior and the answer is a resounding “no”. Everyone’s kids are having a difficult time.

[Cheri McKinney @TI_educator]

A9) If I'm honest, I haven't found that balance this year yet. I'm trying & I'm closer than I was last semester...but it's not balanced yet. #GettingThere #Oklaed

[Dr. Jason James @James409Jason]

Q9) How do you maintain that work - life balance during the school year? #oklaed

[Cheri McKinney @TI_educator]

A8) My other admin friends. We are all just encouraging and motivating each other to keep the faith. This year has been insanely tough, but next year will be better. It has to be. 🤞#Oklaed

[Dr. Jason James @James409Jason]

Q8) What or who have you, as a T, looked to for help in maintaining your grit, perseverance, or motivation this school year? #oklaed

[Dr. Jason James @James409Jason]

@CbrewsterOKC I’m thinking starting pay, loan forgiveness, family insurance benefits, paid maternity leave, free day care, etc. And that is just to start. Our best and brightest should be able to choose teaching without it being a burden to their family #oklaed

[Cheri McKinney @TI_educator]

A7) It's incredibly discouraging & frustrating. I'm worried that our attention is split by all the other terrible things happening & we won't fight hard enough to stop it. #Oklaed

[Dr. Jason James @James409Jason]

Q7) What do you think about the constant “school choice” debate this legislative session? #oklaed

[Cheri McKinney @TI_educator]

A6) Competitive teacher pay & a higher sense of respect. #oklaed

[Dr. Jason James @James409Jason]

Q6) What is 1 idea that would motivate more adults into becoming teachers? How would you solve the teacher shortage crisis? #oklaed

[Cheri McKinney @TI_educator]

@James409Jason And many Ts do not feel that they have time to do so. Having someone available in the school would be such a huge help. #oklaed

[Cheri McKinney @TI_educator]

A4) We need more mental health professionals in our schools, helping our Ts, Admin, & Ss. #OklaEd

[Dr. Jason James @James409Jason]

Q5) We know many students are struggling with mental health. What can be done at Capitol, district and classroom level to help them feel seen and supported #oklaed

[Cheri McKinney @TI_educator]

@CbrewsterOKC @James409Jason But how else will be know not to put other people's blood in our eyes?! #Oklaed

[Cheri McKinney @TI_educator]

A3) A whole lot of encouragement. Telling Ss that I believe they can be brave & do hard things. Everything feels very hard for them this year. #oklaed

[Dr. Jason James @James409Jason]

Q3) what is 1 change you’ve made in your practice since the pandemic that has made the most positive impact in the learning experiences of your students? #oklaed

[Cheri McKinney @TI_educator]

@James409Jason That distinction is important.