No less than three times this week I have been harassed and cajoled by well-intended people attempting to convince me to revisit my "leadership journey". A mentor of mine, a former parent with whom I still keep in touch, and a colleague from work all took me aside or emailed me to gently (and in one case not-so-gently) nudge me forward.
All three advances were rewarded with a fairly firm no thanks from me.
As I put on a suit this evening to "clean up" for Meet the Teacher Night at my school, I looked in the mirror and chuckled at the former Vice Principal looking back at me from the glass. The suit is one I had worn many times while doing a stint as an acting VP before I went off to teach teachers at Tyndale University's Department of Education some years ago, and it is one I have rarely removed from my closet since that time (though plenty else has come out of there in its stead, hehe).
Then my suits were plentiful and my hair was long, usually worn up. Now my garb typically comprises comfortable, bike-friendly pants and a plaid shirt, accented with rather a short-ish do up top. Then my days were spent on the computer dealing with Board emails and in my principal's office, checking busing procedures and trying to convince him to consider a more student-centred timetable for the following year. Now my days are spent sharing slide shows of sand dunes in PEI and 200-year-old trees in Buenos Aires with my Grade 7 Science classes, and conferencing with math anxious students to encourage them along their individual learning journeys, or trying to convince my Grade 8 math class that uncovering a pattern is more exciting than who said what to whom at lunch and how whom reacted to what who said and what who's going to do about it now...
Then I drove home reluctantly to a junk-filled house that was mortgaged to the hilt, now I bike eagerly or bus while reading the paper and catching up on the daily news, knowing I will soon arrive home to a clutter-free apartment overlooking the lake and city skyline, and thinking occasionally of "my"(co-owned) pastoral summer oasis in PEI, overlooking the ocean.
Then I wondered what was next while I watched half-hearted teachers yell at their students, or chat on their phones during class, or send kids to the office for not having a pencil while my principal hid in his office or played with his crackberry while doing token recess duties. Now I collaborate with colleagues on ministry projects and social justice and equity writing teams across the province and around the world.
Then I was considered a "Leader", now I am viewed with suspicion for choosing to return to the classroom.
Ahhh, the life of a classroom teacher! :D
All three advances were rewarded with a fairly firm no thanks from me.
As I put on a suit this evening to "clean up" for Meet the Teacher Night at my school, I looked in the mirror and chuckled at the former Vice Principal looking back at me from the glass. The suit is one I had worn many times while doing a stint as an acting VP before I went off to teach teachers at Tyndale University's Department of Education some years ago, and it is one I have rarely removed from my closet since that time (though plenty else has come out of there in its stead, hehe).
Then my suits were plentiful and my hair was long, usually worn up. Now my garb typically comprises comfortable, bike-friendly pants and a plaid shirt, accented with rather a short-ish do up top. Then my days were spent on the computer dealing with Board emails and in my principal's office, checking busing procedures and trying to convince him to consider a more student-centred timetable for the following year. Now my days are spent sharing slide shows of sand dunes in PEI and 200-year-old trees in Buenos Aires with my Grade 7 Science classes, and conferencing with math anxious students to encourage them along their individual learning journeys, or trying to convince my Grade 8 math class that uncovering a pattern is more exciting than who said what to whom at lunch and how whom reacted to what who said and what who's going to do about it now...
Then I drove home reluctantly to a junk-filled house that was mortgaged to the hilt, now I bike eagerly or bus while reading the paper and catching up on the daily news, knowing I will soon arrive home to a clutter-free apartment overlooking the lake and city skyline, and thinking occasionally of "my"(co-owned) pastoral summer oasis in PEI, overlooking the ocean.
Then I wondered what was next while I watched half-hearted teachers yell at their students, or chat on their phones during class, or send kids to the office for not having a pencil while my principal hid in his office or played with his crackberry while doing token recess duties. Now I collaborate with colleagues on ministry projects and social justice and equity writing teams across the province and around the world.
Then I was considered a "Leader", now I am viewed with suspicion for choosing to return to the classroom.
Ahhh, the life of a classroom teacher! :D
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