My name is Schyler Kline. I am an adult with cystic fibrosis, and I am an elementary school teacher. My experience with teaching while having CF has been quite diverse over the years. Seven years ago, I started my adventure in elementary teaching. My first job was teaching first grade. I taught first grade for four years, and then I taught third grade for two years. Just recently, I got my dream job of teaching Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) to kindergarten through fifth grade students. I get the joy of building a STEM program from scratch. Now when people ask me what grade I teach, I simply say I teach them all!
Back in 2017 when I was student teaching, I went and had my regular check up with my CF care center. I remember my doctor asking me what profession I was going into, and I told them teaching, specifically at the elementary level. The biggest question that arose was how I would be able to keep healthy while also maintaining my CF and teaching 25 students?
From my experience, it really is about transparency. In my daily life, CF is a part of me and, therefore, I have no problem sharing with people that I have CF. I also talk to my students about CF and my involvement in the CF community. When told about cystic fibrosis, most students need more explanation. However, they are always fully supportive — even to the point where some of them ask how they can be more involved.
Oftentimes, I use my cystic fibrosis as a teaching moment. For example, I teach my students the importance of washing their hands to stay healthy. I always have bottles of hand sanitizer readily available! It is so important to teach students the importance of staying healthy.
One of the things about having CF is I can relate and empathize with students and staff who may have or just been diagnosed with a chronic illness. I like to help them with advocacy and provide resources that I have utilized.
It is so important to surround yourself with supportive people. The workplace is no exception to this, and it is so critical to have those champions in your life who are there for you. Of course, it is up to your discretion if you want to tell your workplace about your cystic fibrosis. However, I have found my coworkers to be very supportive once they find out that I have CF.
As a teacher, I understand the importance of educating others about life with CF within the general community as well as the CF community. After realizing this, I became more involved with the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and am currently serving on the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Education Committee. The committee consists of various experts from doctors to nurses as well as two adults with CF. We work together to ensure quality educational information is provided not only to the CF community but also the general public. It is truly rewarding to combine my experience with both my career and cystic fibrosis.
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