Shout It Out

Photo by Jonathan Olson

Ever listen to Bobby McFerrin's sunny tune, "Don't Worry, Be Happy" and think, "Gimme a break"?  Curmudgeon I'm not, but I know the feeling. Sometimes it feels plain wrong to just whistle along when so much is unsettled in your life and in the world. Like me, though, I suspect you've developed perspective. Hand wringing too much about the bad stuff can definitely make you blind to the good stuff—those spectacular moments that flitter by just perfectly: Your fifth-grader shouts, "I get it!" You say, "aha!" A parent beams.

So when we asked you a few months back to share some of those moments with us—your "good news"—it was our way of making sure you ended the year, well, in perspective. We figured it was worth noting that success and happiness don't always revolve around a healthy school ledger, or off-the-chart test scores, or a thumbs-up from the district.

What does matter? To be honest, we weren't sure you'd have time to tell us. But you regaled us with a bounty of inspiring tales. They're wildly different one from the other, as you'll see from those we've plucked for our cover story. Yet together, they tell the complex and remarkable story of you. 

There's you working creatively with colleagues and with parents, ushering kids through milestones in their lives, mining the humor in the little things, turning failures into lessons. Above all, there's you honoring your mission (and, every so often, allowing others to honor you). 

The wonderful staff at NEA Today worked hard this year to reflect you in these pages, so your stories became a powerful affirmation of our own work—and an inspiration, too. For that, we say thanks. And because this is our last issue until September, we also say so long.

Have a joyous summer. Celebrate a year of victories. Whistle loudly. Don't worry, be happy. And write us! We'll be meeting up before you know.

Editor-in-Chief Marilyn Milloy