In this video, I share my real experiences teaching in inner city, Title 1 public schools—and I’m very honest about how different it is from what you see in movies like Dangerous Minds. I’ve worked in public schools my entire career, and I wanted to give you a teacher’s-eye view of what urban teaching actually feels like: the challenges, the realities around school violence, and the parts that people don’t always show when they talk about “inner city schools.” I also talk about why I’m still passionate about this work. Even with the pressures that lead many public school teachers to quit, I’ve seen so much hope and so much potential in my students—especially English language learners who need strong instruction, structure, and teachers who won’t give up on them. My goal is to help you understand the calling behind this work and to encourage you if you’re teaching (or considering teaching) in a Title 1 setting, because our ELLs deserve educators who are prepared, realistic, and committed.