Slice of Life Post: March 15, 2023

When I retired from teaching, it was during the shutdown. Obviously, that made the end of forty years of teaching rather uneventful. I taught for 30 years in the district I now live in. Consequently, I missed out on saying goodbye to my students, colleagues and support staff. An email was sent to everyone asking them to write notes to the retirees. I was just one of many people retiring that year across the district. The board secretary recorded everyone’s notes into a journal, an incredible task which we were asked to collect in June. Generally we would have a retirement tea in which the retirees would be placed around the room so people could wander through and write little notes to everyone in these journals. The teas were never well attended which I always thought was a bit sad, too. I’m not sure why this was the case, but I think it is because our district borders two other states so not everyone lives in town.

To my dismay, I later discovered that I did not receive a single note from any administrator although a board member sent me a card in the mail with a generous gift certificate.. I realize everyone has busy lives, but I was deeply saddened by the admin not being able to write a little note. Hey, I may not have been the most popular teacher in the district, but I’d worked hard for thirty years in this district, coaching students in speech, directing plays, sponsoring a literary magazine, supporting National History Day and Invent Iowa competitors and so much more. You know those other duties assigned that is written in your contract.

What really bothered me during the last few years of teaching was the lack of communication from the powers that be. I often would go to a particular office to speak with the principal or the person in charge in order to get a clear and immediate response. Too many times sending an email went unanswered. Some things could not wait, especially when I was writing grants. By the time I retired, I had garnered close to a hundred thousand dollars for the school. It might have even been more, but I do not have the energy to fact check the amount right now. Through these efforts students received 3D printers, a renovated library with flexible seating and technology perks such as collaborative hubs, chargers, and a huge television that the principal used often for staff meetings.

One of my favorite grant awards invited students to a cardboard challenge day which included construction and technology workshops. Afterwards, we just got bitched at because someone said there was a scratch on the floor. Later, I found out that the scratch had already been there. I also met a lot of resistance from the business manager who literally made life difficult when receiving grant money. OMG, I do not have enough words to explain this situation or express my frustration.

Unfortunately, I personally witnessed a colleague being rudely treated during meetings by a curriculum person, who also tried to take credit for the accomplishments my colleague had made for the district with STEM grants and coding curriculum. WTF! It’s beyond my comprehension. Sadly, I often believed that the teachers who did little were better supported than the ones who were really making great strides and a positive difference within a building or across the district.

Sadly, our school district has had an influx of school superintendents which I believe is part of the problem. When you do not have solid, consistent leaders communicating concerns or appreciation, I think it is easy for people to feel undervalued. I think one of the most important things administrators can do is to provide a positive working environment to the dedicated instructors who show up day after day going above and beyond for their district and students. Just as teachers do for their own classroom students.

Anyway, I could go on and on, but I already feel like this is just one big bitch that I’m unleashing so I’ll save you from anymore of this pain by closing with this final thought/suggestion: if you know someone who has been doing something and they deserve a bit of thanks, just send them an email or write them a note. It isn’t that difficult to jot down a few words of kindness. I know this thoughtfulness will be deeply appreciated:)

You might wonder what inspired this post…well, it’s been brewing for awhile, but today I found this cartoon from Dilbert that I cut out and had tucked into a book, hence the floodgates opened.

I hope you have a good leader or person in your life who shows you appreciation even when it’s not Teacher Appreciation Day or Mother’s Day or Father’s Day, etc., and thank you to the Two Teachers Writing site for allowing me to post this piece and to read all the other slices from bloggers today!