Last Class?

I taught my last class today at the school where I served for 18 years. It was surreal and strange. (Well, it was summer school, so that might have had something to do with it.) My run lasted longer than I expected, but then, what differences have our expectations ever made on our outcomes? My eldest daughter was born the year that I started on this campus; she graduated last month. I think the timing is rather poetic.

The first year that I worked there my classroom was down the hall from a teacher who taught the same subject in the same classroom for his entire career (35 years). I asked him if he ever felt the desire to change. He said no. He said he felt content. He liked his job, he liked his classroom, and he liked his students. So why make a change? I feel the same way about the job I just finished. So why did I make a change?

I tell people it was because of my desire to help my own children (I have six), two of which are now in college. I want to help them and my oldest son with their college debt. I also want to do a better job of preparing financially for my youngest three to attend college, many years from now. When I talk to people I share about the value of growth, and the desire to do something different, to “change it up.”

But the bottom line is that, just like Walter White, I did it for me. And I’m proud to be moving on, and moving up. My new assignment is a big step up, and will be a real challenge. I’ll still be working in public education, but at a new campus in a new town in a brand new position where I have no history of accomplishment, no familiar colleagues, and no idea what to expect. Awesome fun!

This is all happening faster than I expected it to, and not without some trials. I will be commuting about an hour each way, my days will be longer, and I will not see my children and wife nearly as much. Hopefully that will be temporary. While I could never have predicted the circumstances that brought me here, I look forward to the unpredictability of this new challenge and all of the opportunity it will provide.

Administrative Qualifications?

Before launching my teaching career, I spent five years working in Hyde Park, South Central Los Angeles. My father bought an established wholesale barbeque rib business where I worked in sales and delivery. It was an amazing experience in diversity. All of our employees spoke Spanish, and most of our customers were from West LA. Koreans and African Americans owned most of the surrounding businesses. When the riot broke out in 1992, our shop was looted, but not burned down. I believe the business was saved because of the excellent relationship we established with our neighbors.

That was my “day job” while I worked on television and commercial production on the weekends. Production work is high-energy and complex. It requires excellent time-management skills. I learned how to create and keep a tight schedule, and how to complete tasks with precision. For example, I was once given three hours to find, purchase, and transport a size 54 orange jumpsuit (without the benefits of the Internet). I delivered the costume on time. I understand working under the pressure of a deadline, and the importance of accuracy.

In my first two years of teaching drama in middle school, I directed a group of traveling actors knows as Mime and Madness. Next, I brought my production experience with me to Redlands High School. I was asked to create a new media arts program. Today, the students in this program use technology to create their own short films and animation projects. They send their projects to competitive student film festivals. The "Digital Dogz" won top awards in the PAH (Project Accessible Hollywood) Festival sponsored by Christopher Coppola; the Inland Empire Media Academy Film Festival at San Bernardino Valley College; and the SLATE Short Film Festival.

In addition, I advised the RHS Associated Student Body while teaching Student Government and Leadership for two years. I also advised a service club of students who built houses for needy families in Mexico with the Hands of Mercy organization.