From Ms. Martin:
Reflections on My Time Teaching in Juvie
Written August 9, 2025 – One Month Later
Hello, my name is Lindsay Martin, but today Ms. Martin will be talking to you. I’ve been a
teacher for six years, but nothing changed me more than my time teaching in juvie. Those kids became part of my heart. Today, I’m sharing something raw, a small reflection on why that place was my favorite to teach at… and why I had to walk away.
I’m sharing this because there’s a side to teaching, especially in juvenile detention, that most people never see. And I think if more people understood it, they might see these kids differently. This isn’t just about my career; it’s about the students who changed me. I am writing today for many reasons. I enjoy sharing my life experiences. I’ve shared a life story as a vlog on YouTube which was a one time thing, maybe this is too. But anyways, I write this on August 9th 2025, 1 month after leaving from being a teacher in juvie in my community.
If you personally know me, you truly know how much working there meant to me. Those kids were/are something special. I could honestly go on and on and share so many stories about each and every single experience and kid in there, but maybe another time.
Every morning started with doors being opened for me to the POD to enter the classroom. My students would walk in wearing "uniforms", but every single one carried a different story. Most of the days we laughed together; sometimes the room was quiet, whether because a court date hadn’t gone the way someone hoped, or it was simply one of those heavy days for the kids.
I write today because I’ve been reflecting on this last month and how much I care about those kids I’ve met and how much I want to be able to help them and many more students like them. Maybe I will get the opportunity one day to make a difference for them and students to come after them.
But here’s something I’ve realized in this past month since leaving and it honestly makes me sad to admit. My health has drastically improved. And the sad part is, it has nothing to do with the kids.
My resting heart rate has dropped by 12 bpm. I’ve lost weight without changing anything except my job. Physically and mentally, I feel great. People have even told me, “You look happy!”
It’s not like I wasn’t active before. I played rec with the kids almost every single day, about 95% of the time. And as one of the boys liked to say, “Ms. Martin is a try hard.” Haha But I think they were just mad they kept losing to a 27 year old female teacher in pink, haha. But all jokes aside, on top of all that, I was still training on my own, waking up at 4 a.m. to train clients before and after teaching every day.
Another thing I’ve noticed now that I’m teaching “in the outs” again, I’m getting about 20,000 steps a day, just like I did when I was teaching at the high school before Juvie.
And I keep reminding myself… I got to leave there (juvie) every day. They didn’t.
As I have started at this new job as a 7th grade ELA teacher, I have had some comments that have made me realize this even more. Being a teacher outside of a juvie feels different now. I have had some teachers realize when I leave my class for the restroom, go to the office for copies or anything, they ask why do you keep your door open? Honestly, I did not know how to answer that the first couple of times I got asked, but believe it or not I have gotten asked this 4 times now so it made me think about it. Is it because for a little over a year I was in a way locked up? No windows, white walls when I started, waiting for someone to let you in and out the Pod, keys for everything.
Yes, I know I was in juvie, but are we here to rehab them? If this is how I was feeling, imagine how a kid feels in here? Some of you are reading this maybe and thinking, well they did this to themself. Well that is the first problem. If you had one conversation with one of those kids, you would actually know it is not always their fault. It all starts for a reason. And I can say that we make it worse sometimes. Once they go in there, it puts them down more. I know their peers and me and some DO’s would try to make them feel better everyday. But think about not having physical contact with your family, not sleeping in your own bed as a kid, nothing on the walls in your room, asking for toiletries, etc. Again a lot of people could argue with me and say they know better. And I could say, I sadly was one of those people before my own eye opening experience…
November 22, 2023 my life changed and how I looked at things suddenly changed. I listen way more and I feel way more. I am a very emotional person after that day and it is a bad a good thing at times.
If I learned anything, it’s that kids in the system don’t need more judgment, they need more
adults willing to believe in them, even when the world doesn’t.
During this time of reflection, I have also felt like I abandoned them. I saw and heard things I did not agree with while there. But after I made this hard decision of leaving and talking to the kids, I hope they understand they were never the reason for me leaving. It was the no regular school breaks, less pay then at a regular school even though I was the only teacher for several months and even mean girls (DO’s). And even though I was burnt out, I knew I could not leave yet.
I hope to see those kids one day. I hope they know that everything I said to them I meant and I hope to see them win. They are more than capable just like any other student. And if you’re a teacher reading this, I hope you’ll look at your students a little differently. It starts young. Don’t be afraid to be their voice. We need more teachers who are willing to work with kids who might be in gangs, facing violence, or navigating impossible home situations. I honestly believe all teachers should have some kind of training for that and I am not talking about the yearly training we already have.
ME? I am happy where I am at. I have a lot to do at the school I am at this year. I hope to make a difference, even if it is one student. I hope they realize I care about their education as much as I care about who they are as people. I hope these memories in 7th grade are a core memory for them as it is for me.
If you work with kids, or even if you don’t, remember that the way you speak to them matters. You might be the only adult who makes them feel seen today.
