VNIT TED WEEKENDS WATCH: How A Teacher Encouraged Her Students With An 'F' Rita Pierson — May 6, 2013 Teachers don't make a lot of money. They are usually not deemed worthy of news coverage unless there is a scandal or a strike. Most of the time, their major accomplishments are shared only with colleagues and family members and not the media. The celebration is often cut short by some catastrophe the next day. Yet, in spite of the highs and lows, many teachers cannot think of another profession that brings them both joy and challenge on a daily basis. In the spring of her career, Rita Pierson found herself questioning the choice of her life's work because the students did not appear to be motivated, the paperwork was overwhelming and the constant change of educational direction was discouraging. Still, Rita could not seem bring herself to do anything else. "Next year", she would say. "Next year I will switch jobs, make more money and have far less stress." Next year just never came. She am now in year 4o. And while Rita is no longer in the classroom or at the schoolhouse, she remains an educator. Pierson, "it finally dawned on me that there was no other profession that would let me change children's minds and have an impact on their future, long after the school day and school year were over." For every student that finally "got it," for every rookie teacher that said, "you inspired me to stay," Rita explains that this affirmation was more rewarding than anything else. Pierson: I was on a plane recently and the flight attendant asked my name. When I told him, he said, "I knew that was you! You taught at my elementary school. You made me take my cap off in the building and told me I was handsome." He then paused and said: "I think I kept my hat on until you saw me, just so I could get that compliment. Thank you for making me feel special." I don't think he realized how special he made me feel that day. There have been so many former stud