"Every workplace has its imperfections and challenges. I accept that. But public education is painted as a career where you make a difference in the lives of students. When a system becomes so deeply flawed that students suffer and good teachers leave (or become jaded), we must examine how and why we do things."

In this compelling argument, Virginia Teacher of the Year Michael Keany enumerates the reasons why he as left our profession. I am impressed with how calmly he expresses the frustrations that often reduce my fellow teachers and me to tears. I am not always logical enough to express to outsiders my growing problems with a job I love and have loved for a number of years.

1. We are forced to jump through too many hoops that distract us from our real work of teaching our kids.

2. A plan for getting out of current difficulties, budgets and so on, doesn't seem to exist.

3. We are forced to be obsessed with flawed assessments. So many reasons exist to question the current direction of assessing. Why aren't more people asking the questions?

4. We need to build communities that support education. We must.