By: Dewand Hemsley

D.C. teachers tirelessly navigate overcrowded classrooms, scarce resources, and budget constraints while remaining dedicated to inspiring, educating, and uplifting students. Often, they go beyond their duties to ensure every child receives the quality education they deserve.

Despite facing large class sizes, limited resources, and budget cuts, D.C. teachers remain committed to providing quality education and fostering positive learning environments. Many use personal funds for classroom supplies, advocate for better policies, and ensure students receive essential support. Their perseverance and passion make them vital pillars of the community, yet their efforts often go unrecognized.

Ms. Van, a DCPS high school English teacher, sees herself and her colleagues as frontline workers fighting for educational equity. Serving students who navigate daily realities of poverty, violence, and systemic neglect, their classrooms remain spaces of resilience and brilliance—where young people rise above impossible odds. Teaching in D.C. means being a counselor, parent figure, mentor, and advocate, all while managing overcrowded classrooms and outdated materials.

Budget cuts hit D.C. schools hardest, leaving teachers scrambling for basic supplies. Class sizes grow, but necessary supports like interventionists and mental health services do not. Some days, Ms. Van enters her classroom knowing a student hasn’t eaten or slept but is expected to deliver content and maintain structure. Despite these challenges, D.C. teachers continue showing up, believing in their students’ potential. They craft lessons that meet students where they are, celebrate their growth, and push them to new heights.

Duane Thomas, a dedicated teacher at a Title I school, highlights how resource scarcity translates to significant personal costs. “The scarcity of resources costs me thousands of dollars each year,” he explains, striving to provide his students with a quality education often taken for granted in better-funded districts.

Thomas describes inconsistency within school administration as a major issue. Administrative expectations frequently shift, burdening teachers further. “I had to purchase a classroom set of headphones for $60. Highlighters and holders for the entire class cost me around $70,” he says. When copiers break or schools run out of paper, teachers like Thomas are left scrambling for alternatives.

Their dedication remains unwavering, but their efforts require recognition, respect, resources, and a voice in shaping policies. Until then, D.C. teachers will continue to show up for their students and communities, striving for the future their students deserve.

By: Teachers Are Heroes!