The Education of Ms. Groves

Monica Groves: Today is your final exam. So there is absolutely no talking, no rough housing, nothing. This is a serious day because a final exam really does determine your grade.

December 15^th: The last week of the first semester. It is now been more than four months since Monica met her students with such great expectations.

She grades the exams at home.

More exams and more failing grades: More than half of Monica’s students get a “D” or worse.

Monica Groves: I keep asking myself: Did I set them up to fail? Did I not teach enough, did I not teach well enough? Did I not give enough review?

Monica’s ambitious goal of 80 percent at “B” or above suddenly it seems unattainable.

Monica needs the kids to do better and she needs them to do it fast.

Hoda Kotb, Dateline correspondent: How much gas is left in your tank right now?

Groves: I would say a quarter of a tank. I guess the reason I say that is because there’s so much emotion that goes into my teaching... there so much and I know that they don’t know it. And half the time I don’t know it. I love my kids and a lot of the stress that I go through is me wanting to make sure that I’m giving them everything that they need and me wanting to make sure that I’m stepping up for them. And that becomes a semester of just being like, “Not good enough, not good enough, not good enough. You could do this better,” or like, “Damn, you should not have yelled at that kid.” It becomes, you know, it becomes emotionally draining...

Kotb, to Principal Kenner: She looks to me to be close to an early burnout. Are you concerned about that?

Kenner: Yeah, I’m always concerned about that. I don’t see the signs of such frustration yet that I think, “boy, this is gonna be a hopeless case.”

Principal Kenner has been meeting with Monica to help her develop new teaching strategies.

Kenner: If raising your voice is not something that you’re comfortable with you got to find a different way. We’re gonna work on going there with you.

The end of a disappointing first semester that once held so much promise is a turning point for Monica. She must find her voice as a teacher...now more than ever. At stake: nothing less than the success of her students.

Groves (Video diary): This is my mission, this is my goal, and that’s personal. But also sometimes my anger is personal, my frustration is personal, when I’m tired it’s personal, everything is too personal...I have to remove some of that. It’s too personal.

I need to get control of my thoughts and my frustrations and I need to be that teacher that they can come to every day and know: “This is Ms. Groves, this is what I can expect.” And I need to let them have the emotional moments. Not me.

January brings the hopeful beginning of a new semester but Monica’s at a dead end with Mayah. Anger, frustration, outright pleas — nothing has worked to motivate her. 

At a parent conference for failing students, Monica meets Mayah’s mom, where she finds out Mayah was an “A” and “B” student.

Groves: And something told me, “just ask.” Because maybe even though you’ve been pushing, you haven’t really been asking, “why?”

Mayah: There was a lot of drama at my house. I wasn’t able to get all my work done stuff like that ‘cause my dad, he was in jail. A lot of stuff was going on…

Monica learns that for the last five months Mayah’s dad has been in prison.

Groves: And she said my dad has been jail and I felt really silly at that point because she just flat out gave me the reason of “I’m struggling emotionally. And I’ve been acting out in school. And I couldn’t focus.” And that was information that I didn’t have.

February 3^rd, a month later
Perhaps the most dramatic classroom scene of the entire year. And Mayah is right in the middle of it— a fight breaks out between Mayah and another girl in class.

Groves: When I approached them, I was imagine, thinking “Ok, the worst is over. I’m here now. And, wait a minute, can’t get them apart!” Finally I was able to redirect Mayah to the seat. And I was really angry with her.

Kotb: Are you realizing that there are some kids who you can’t reach?

Groves: If anybody were to think that, it should not be your teacher. It should not be your teacher who resorts to that way of thinking.

Mayah is suspended. With only three months left in the school year, her chances of passing Monica’s class - in fact all of sixth grade - are slim.

And Monica is wondering—is time running out for herself as well?

Groves: The reality is what your students are able to do is a direct reflection of your teaching. It really makes me nervous, because it’s hard to face your faults.

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The Education of Ms. Groves A classroom as fascinating TV? Producer: Chronicling Monica's journey Meet Ms. Groves' students The principal's point of view Mrs. Kamminga, Monica's inspiration and 1st grade teacher The Education of Ms. Groves Section Front   Add The Education of Ms. Groves headlines to your news reader: