Last Minute Note-to-Self

As I prepare to enter my new school's community -- kids, teachers, staff, admins, alums, board members, and parents/grandparents -- I am jotting one very vital note to myself before leaving the door.  And looking forward to revisiting it over the year ahead:

Note to self:

The school has seen something in you that they value.  Likewise, you have seen something even more impressive in them that you value...

The school has invited you to become a part of their lives and families.  Likewise, you have invited them to become part of your life and family.

The school has entrusted you with the academic and social well-being of their most precious resources: their kids. Likewise, you have agreed to take this responsibility on without fail.

The school -- long before you were interviewed -- had been successfully creating a culture of academic rigor, respect/empathy, and life-long relationships.  Even if you never came around, they'd still be doing it tomorrow and many years into the future.  They invited you to play a small role within their larger family. You have accepted a small role within their larger family, and look forward to following their lead along the way.

The school hires new team members because they believe that they be able to bring additional ideas and resources to them over time. What they need from you early on, however, is to listen to, learn about, respect, and celebrate the academic world that they have already built and committed to long before you arrived'. You have plenty of time to share new ideas, but listening, watching, and respecting is the first rule of business.  Listening and watching is your best trait going forward in this first year.

The school expects you to do great things on their behalf. In the meantime, they will ask you to do the 'small' things first.  Likewise, you hope to do great things on their behalf. In the meantime, you will embrace the 'small' things with dignity and enthusiasm (and know that many of the 'great' things start there, by the way).

Now that you have that cleared up, go have an amazing time!

Comments

[Jenny]

I may have to hang this up over my desk as a reminder to myself.

[Z]

first, THANK YOU! this post is exactly what i needed to read after coming home today from my new school's new teacher academy. i was beginning to feel overwhelmed and this suffocating blanket of fear was also starting to take hold. this new school do things so differently and actually work smarter instead of harder. unfortunately and sadly i was trained right out of college to work harder instead of smarter at my previous school. so naturally everything that was coming at me today was both exciting and scary! so thank you for reminding me of why i'm here and why i crossed paths with this school.

and second, do you mind if i copy this and memorize it verbatim!?!

[Bud Hunt]

Well said, and a good reminder for those of us in new places. Go get 'em. Respectfully, of course.

[Eric Langhorst]

Good luck. I look forward to reading about your adventures this year in the classroom. Welcome back.

Eric

[Christian Long]

Too many reasons to say "Thanks" to each of you -- Eric, Bud, Z, Jenny -- right now. Thanks for the responses!

In some respects, this post should fall into the "scribbled into my journal" column, but something about putting it out there publicly forces me to stay headed towards True North when ego/ideas/question muddy the waters.

Z -- Hang in there. I used to get so utterly frustrated in the past years in meetings and such; somehow the hiatus away from teaching has changed the point of it all for me, and now, I'm just utterly honored to be back in the game, and will do whatever the school needs me to do. Why? Because it's all rosey? No. Because it's for a higher purpose than just my needs/career...and it finally hit me this summer after 10+ years of being an educator.

Better late than never, n'est-ce pas?

Cheers to you all!
C

[Tracy Rosen]

Very timely as I am about to start a new adventure in a new school myself.

I agree with the higher purpose slant. Teaching for me goes well beyond my own needs/career as well.

Great post, glad I found it.
Cheers,
Tracy

[Cheryl]

Good luck 07-08, practise going to bed earlier and eating breakfast!