Unexpected News!

    Before I get started I have to explain why I’m posting this today instead of Friday night. You see my husband is a cyclist and as soon as I was allowed to leave Friday, I hurried home because we had to go to one of our college towns for a bike race. Anyway, the drive was about 4 hours long because my husband doesn’t believe in driving the speed limit because you can get better gas mileage driving slower. The trip should have taken a little more than 3 hours. When he picked up his racing materials and we got checked in at the hotel, we grabbed something to eat and we headed back to the hotel. It was about 10:15. I started my blog and was almost finished when he asked if he could use my computer to check something pertaining to the race. I knew that he needed to get in bed so I opened a new tab. That was the mistake! I told him not to exit out when he was finished but like usual he didn’t listen to me or quite possibly just didn’t hear me. I like to think the latter. Maybe this teacher just isn’t a loud teacher.

Back to my blog.

    Friday morning I woke up when my alarm sounded and I didn’t press snooze so I had plenty of time to get ready. I headed to the school excited because I had 11 families to show up at the “Sneak Peek” that we had Thursday from 4 until 6 pm. My nerves were much more calm now because I was getting back in the hang of what had been familiar 14 years ago. When I got to school, I decided not to pull any of the boxes that I had stuffed under the computer table out. I knew that we had meetings today and that when we had the opportunity to work in our rooms, I needed to meet with my grade teachers and plan exactly what we would be doing for the week. At 7:30, we were asked to go to the library for our breakfast and first meeting. Well, that was when the “unexpected news” was announced. Before anyone started to fix a plate, the principal and assistant principal walked in. The principal began talking. At this point I couldn’t tell what was going on. He started out by telling us that our school was a successful school and what our testing results were from last year. He went on to tell the faculty how he loved everyone as a friend and that he had resigned from his position. What did I hear that correctly? I left my previous position to come to this school to teach for this principal. When I was considering the move, he was so excited to know that I wanted to teach at his school and it was because of that excitement and my desire to teach at this school caused me to select it as my first choice on my intent form last year. The rolling in my stomach caused from excitement and anticipation of teaching again was replaced with a rolling that was caused from fear of the unknown. Who would be assigned as principal at my school?

    After he finished his talk, he left the room. At this point teachers were already wailing. Even the new assistant principal who had only been working with him for approximately three weeks was trying unsuccessfully to hold back the tears. I was looking around the room in disbelief as I picked my jaw off the floor. Never in my wildest dreams had I imagined something like this. The assistant principal told us that our principal needed time and to please give him that because talking to us was really hard for him. I didn’t see him at all the rest of the day. We were told that one of our assistant superintendents would arrive around 10:00 am with our new principal and we would meet her. Oh that was a clue. At least we now know that our new principal was a female. I work in one of the largest school districts in the state. We have quite a few school lets just say more than 17…… Since I had worked last year in a position at the central office, I knew the principals. I was certain that our new principal would be someone already working in our district. The question now was which female principal would we get? As the teachers began to calm down a few teachers did eat but not many. The cafeteria manager informed us about a few changes in the cafeteria and then we were released to go to our rooms.

    As I headed to my room, one of the teachers in my grade asked me if I wanted to meet in her room with a few other teachers because she just felt that we needed to pray. I am so thankful to be working with Christian educators. I did along with a couple of other teachers. I will have to say that after we prayed, I did feel a calming feeling. My stomach was rolling like it was when I first heard the “unexpected” news. I went to my room to do a few things. Around 9:30, we were called back to the library. We had a presenter who went over the basics of the new behavior program that we are implementing in our school this year. Before she was completely finished, I saw the assistant superintendent in the hall. I could not tell who was with her.

    The assistant principal left the library and in a few minutes she re-entered with our assistant superintendent and our new principal. The assistant superintendent explained what happened without telling us anything. (I think that is typically the way situations like this are handled.) She then introduced our new principal to us and allowed her to tell us about herself. Apparently, she was shocked yesterday afternoon when she was presented with the option of taking this position. She told us how all of that had unfolded. Then, she had each of us introduce ourselves and tell her what we were teaching. I did know her but not really know her. You know, I have seen her and talked to her. However, I have never worked for her nor do I know how she is as an administrator. I guess that is part of what I will be learning this year.

    After our brief introductions, we headed for the cafeteria. Our custodian cooked for the entire faculty and staff. The lunch was wonderful. He cooked roast beef, scalloped potatoes, deliciously seasoned string beans, and bread. I’m not sure who provided the cakes but all of it was awesome.

    After lunch, we had more time to work in our rooms. The teachers in my grade met in the grade chair teacher’s room to work on lesson plans. I was called out because I had a child and her parents enrolling who were not able to come last night. (My class is now up to 26 and I have met 13! I think that is a great percentage! Have a mentioned that I work at a Title One school?) After taking care of my new child, I returned to the planning with my co-workers. I am so thankful to be teaching in the same grade with these teachers. We are so much alike and yet we really seem to compliment each other because we have different talents. Our lessons are done for the first two weeks, thanks to the grade chair. I LOVE this woman! We had about 30 minutes before we could leave for the day. I offered to do a short “Getting Started” session for the SMART interactive whiteboard. The school had these installed about one week before school was out. Only teachers who transferred in had experience using the board. I just did a little session to show the teachers how to turn them on and get a new page to write on and how to use the basic tools. Then, I showed them how to register on the http://exchange.smarttech.com web site to get notebooks already created.  After I finished that, I didn’t have time to do anything but grab my stuff and head home. My husband was waiting for me. We had a trip planned. Yes, I know that I really needed to stay home and go back to the school on Saturday. I figured that I could do it Sunday afternoon because my husband was counting on me being with him……..  

    As soon as we got home today (Sunday), I headed to the school. I got there about 3:15 and yes there were others there including my "new" principal. I started sorting all of the supplies brought in by my students who attended the "Sneak Peek." I then added my students names into the STAR Reading Program so that I can start my testing if I have time tomorrow. I then gathered all of my materials for what my grade teachers have planned to cover. I brought a bag full of teaching books home with me and am about to pour myself over all of it. 

    Am I nervous? You had better believe it. I have taught second grade for three years and then kindergarten for eleven years but remember I haven't been in the classroom in fourteen years....... I am nervous. I have a lot to do tonight so I am ending my blog and will fill you in on my first day with students tomorrow night.