It’s a calling. It is not something you choose to do; it’s something you have to do. You’re born to do it, and you can’t do anything else.

I did not have a very good high school experience. I was not very popular, and I didn’t have a lot of friends. What makes me feel good at the end of the day is when I have had the chance to offer an opportunity for at least one student to go home feeling good about themselves and to say, "You know, there is at least one person in that school who’s glad that I’m there and looks forward to seeing me every day."

Before Canvas, I thought I was doing a really good job. I mean, I always tried. But after 23, 24 years of teaching, you start doing the same things over and over because they are comfortable, and I didn’t realize it. I was in a rut, and I was becoming boring—probably to my students. When I started using Canvas, it was the most exciting thing. It took my teaching from the boring level to all of a sudden being energized. The kids were energized, and it definitely, without a doubt, turned my entire philosophy on teaching and my practices completely around.

Canvas is more than just a place to hold what you’ve always done the way you’ve always done it. The features prompt you into thinking, "Well, hey, there’s other stuff out there to do." I think that’s what the kids pick up on. All of a sudden, for the first time, we’ve got this teacher who’s not handing out worksheets. They’re letting us do cool stuff. We’re researching and creating. We’re getting our voice out there. We’re able to express ourselves.

I continue to teach because there’s no other reward in this world than seeing a student who has low self-esteem, who doesn’t have a place in life, discover, "Hey, I’m good at something! I have something to say, and I have something to offer."

I’m Cheryl Yeatts. I’ve been teaching for about 24 years, and I use Canvas, and my classroom is on fire.