I have been teaching at Winslow Junior High School for 12 years. During that time I have not only been a teacher to my students, but also a mother, a friend and a confidante. Some children have come to me with serious issues which I have helped them with. Often they would write me notes thanking me for making a difference in their lives.

I care about my students. When they have a problem with their homework, I use my free time to help them. When they have a problem with a friend, I listen. I love children. That is why

I became a teacher.

I did not choose this profession for the money. However, when I see that almost every time our contract needs to be renewed and we have to fight to get our meager raise, it makes me wonder what the future will be like for the Winslow school system. How many veteran teachers will continue to stay in the system, when they can travel 20 minutes away and get paid $10,000 more with better benefits? How many professional people do you know that do not have dental insurance?

Each year, more and more is asked of us as teachers, yet we get paid less and less. The insurance rates continue to rise, yet our pay doesn’t. Or if it does, it does not cover the cost of insurance. Many teachers that I have spoken to are either leaving the profession of teaching, or looking for jobs outside of Winslow. I will be one of those teachers looking elsewhere.

I have two children in diapers and in day care. I drive a 17-year-old car that doesn’t start sometimes. My husband also has a job, yet we struggle. When my husband had a root canal, it totally wiped out our meager savings of $1,000. Dental insurance would have made a

big difference.

I consider myself a professional, yet I am not treated like one. When we have to beg and plead for every crumb we get, how much respect are we getting? We are teachers, friends, and often act as parents to these kids, yet what do we get for it? Higher insurance rates? One of the

lowest-paying school systems in the state?

I am concerned not only for myself, but also for Winslow. As veteran teachers leave, and new teachers refuse job offers because of the low pay, what is going to happen? As the teacher shortage increases over the years, what kind of teachers will Winslow attract? Do we really want the leftovers teaching our children and grandchildren? What if there were no teachers to fill those slots?

Over the years, many of my students have come back to visit and they always remember something I taught them, or a game that we played. I know, like many teachers, I have touched a lot of their lives in some way. That is why I love my job. Yet, I can no longer love teaching in Winslow. Like many others trying to raise a family, I can no longer make so many sacrifices. Winslow wants good teachers, but they are losing them.

Something needs to be done. If not, is Winslow really ready to face what lies ahead?

Irene Dineen teaches sixth-grade mathematics at Winslow Junior High School.