Praisesong to Teachers of Teachers

by Lauren Brazeal Garza

For Ed Gomez and Brad Dominy

Ten years ago, you saw my new classroom 

and frowned, bless your heart. 

Friends didn’t arrive

that first day on the job. Your decades contrasted

my green-as-spring dreams— I’d blown in, mid-year,

to our South Dallas high school,

where many teachers left before their first June.

Three weeks in, you found me sobbing

in the hallway and smiled, buck up, 

at least you’re still here. After school, you made tea

and we mended damage from previous days.

Sometimes my favorites dropped out, but some walked the stage. 

Some went on to college, some enlisted and flew to war overseas. 

You taught me that teaching asks us to learn from our failures.

The motto you shared: we can’t reach them all. 

But we never stop trying. You taught me 

each new bell carried a chance. The clock resets with every day’s end. 

I offer this song to teachers of teachers:

who guide us to reset that clock, who keep us searching

and finding ways to reach those we can. 

To you, who pass this knowledge, love, and wisdom along.