Three lunches and a longer school day aren’t the only changes coming to Texas High this year. Teachers campus-wide aim to make this year a more positive one for students and staff with the Why I Teach movement.

Texas High teachers Brittny Ray-Crowell, Alonza Mitchell, Brooke Ferguson and Jenny Walker were chosen to attend the ECET conference in San Diego, an event with the purpose of encouraging teachers in their profession.

The organization Teacher 2 Teacher formed as a result of this conference, and it was here that the Why I Teach campaign was born.

“Their plan was to use it as a way to find out other teachers’ stories,” Ferguson said. “They can then be inspired and renew their vigor for teaching.”

Though it began as a national movement, Ferguson decided to bring the principles of her teaching to her community. With a grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates foundation, teachers were able to host an ECET convention in Texarkana.

“One of the biggest things I learned from there was to come back and be a leader in your own campus,” Ferguson said. “Addressing the idea of why you teach and sharing it with your colleagues creates your own network of support.”

During the local conference, Ferguson made a presentation on #WhyITeach, and it became immediately popular among Texas High teachers.

“A lot of teachers opened Twitter accounts,” Ferguson said. “I think it raises excitement and makes us feel more like the Tiger Family we say we are.”

Its popularity is unsurprising, as many teachers enjoy the encouragement this activity provides for their profession.

“This is a hard job, so [teachers] need to realize at the end of the day– when they have a million papers to grade or a kid has disrespected you– why they do it in the first place,” Crowell said. “It’s remembering why you love what you do and why you put all of that work into it.”

Teachers aren’t just doing this for themselves, though. They strive to inspire students as well and create a more positive classroom environment overall.

“The speech bubbles teachers fill out will be laminated and put on the cafeteria wall,” Ferguson said. “The reasons why they teach are like a living image to students of their dedication and their love to their profession.”

The impact of this movement is present among the community of teachers. It has improved attitudes, and will create a better environment for the upcoming school year. Students can now get to know their teachers better, and teachers have renewed passion in their jobs.

“[Teaching] is my calling,” Crowell said. “My favorite idea that sums it up is that the game chose me. I just love what I do. Boom.”