Summer Fling... Part 1

Three years ago, I re-entered the district I once taught in. I skipped through the acceptance process, eager to grow as a Specialist (my current position) and knew that this semi-promotion was going to be an adventure. Unable to find the ability to save enough money to finish my graduate courses, I was hopeful that this new position would not only increase my knowledge base but also my experiences needed to progress in my profession.

Almost three months into my new job, I was serving teachers and students at my assigned campus and loving the chance to weave in and out of classes working with hungry students, meeting with equally hungry teachers for hours after kids had gone home. I was all smiles day in and day out. Until I got a call one night, telling me that my assignment had been changed and that change was to take effect immediately the next morning. With mixed feelings of the abrupt move and the chance to return to my former colleagues/campus, I reluctantly moved my things and reported to my new assignment.

For the next 5 months, I drove to work with a different disposition. I was concerned as to why I had been moved? Was it that I was not being effective? Was it that I was totally effective, and my expertise was needed at my new campus? More than that, I was hurt that I had been forced out of relationships that I had established and made to build new ones mid-year. All my hard work seemed to have just drifted down the drain. Teachers were left in the dark as to why I had left like a thief in the night and I wasn't at liberty to say why.

My new assignment brought new challenges. Daily, I was living off of my sweat for thirst and energized by my grit. Putting in long hours after clock-out time and unable to sleep often for thoughts of plans taunting my mind even when I wanted to disengage. Weekly, it seemed, I would be in meetings presenting my vision and plans for execution to stabilize and bring success to the programs under my leadership. The only bright light in my path was the teachers and students I had built new relationships with. Each teacher was a complete joy to work with and the days spent planning together after school was some sort of reprieve for the torturous burden lying on my shoulders to prove that learning was in fact occurring in this campus.

A year and a half went by and the burden never seemed to lighten. With one feat down there were only more to plan for and strategically implement courses of action to defeat it. Some summers there was no rest and many nights there were tears and sleepless hours. Second winds came with those I presented in front of would praise my efforts and applaud what they thought were amazing action plans and thoughtful approaches to the feats on the table. As great as it seemed to hear such accolades, there still seemed to be a dark cloud heavy over me with the thought that my job would NEVER truly be done.

Another year lay ahead of me as our scores came in and my mind already began to lay out a plan for what goals needed to be attacked, what needs assessed and what action plans put forth? Then an email shot across my screen. My Math Coordinator was informing each of us that she has quickly retiring and entering a different career path. Awe-struck I stared at the screen. I was not ready for her to leave. She didn't know it, but I was studying her behaviors and actions so that one day in the future I could take on a job similar to hers hopefully in another district. It was my 3-5 year goal/aspiration.

Just as quickly as her news scrolled across my screen, a handful of people stopped by my office to peek their head in and see if I was made aware of the news. I assured them I knew and lamented of my shock. What came out of their mouths next, set the course for the test of a life time that would consume my summer...

click here for Summer Fling Part 2