Supporting Teachers?

It is my 16th consecutive month as an assistant principal. While I haven't written much here, I have much to report. The job is hard – way hard. Much harder than I an anticipated, or could have imagined while I was teaching. I saw administrators as… well, you can read about it here and here and here. I have now apologized to my previous administrators, and I will continue to do so. In fact, I met up with my most recent past principal last week. She actually asked me, “do you see now?” Yes. I see the light in the darkness.

If the teacher I was then sat across the desk (although my office is setup with the desk behind me so we can sit next to each other – I do this so that I can work without being distracted by the many people who walk past my window). Let me start over; if the teacher I was then sat across the desk from the administrator I am now, I would see my teacher self as passionate in presentation, but myopic in view. I didn’t feel supported as a teacher. Not all the time. Sometimes. Not usually. Not from the administrators.

Not that I wasn’t appreciated, it was more like I was ignored. I wasn’t a problem. I built a great program and never wrote a discipline referral. That’s because my students were engaged. But I was hungry for approval from what I believed should be the “Super Teachers” on campus. And they left me alone. Most teachers would appreciate that, and there were times when I did. But not always. I wanted to be recognized by professionals. Sure, the kids and the parents appreciated my hard work, and told me so. But not admin. Not often enough for my ego.

Teachers have BIG egos; it drives what we do. We like to be smart and we like to know that we are helping others. We also like to be recognized as professionals, which we rarely are (recognized as professionals). Just look at competitive salaries. Look at our lunch break. Ever try to work by a bell schedule? Unfortunately, this has a counter effect motivating some teachers to choose to stop acting like professionals. This creates a vicious cycle that must be addressed by administrators. Remember, we are the Super Teachers sent to save the day and make all things right.

To that end, I read a perfect (yes perfect Danny Steele) Letter to a Tired Teacher post. Please go read it now (then come back). We administrators need to stand in the gap for our teachers. We need to encourage and defend them whenever and wherever needed. Teaching is hard work, harder than most non-educators understand. And being a great teacher requires a level of dedication and personal sacrifice that you cannot imagine until you have lived it. Sure, anyone can teach. But only a few reach the level of master teacher. All teachers must be supported by their administrators.

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.