I Miss the Kids

While I do enjoy getting to wallow in technology, I miss having students. Yes, I know that the teachers are my students but it's not the same. It's easier to deal with them one on one but in a group....oy vey! Yesterday's staff development was a fine example. There some of them were, exhibiting all the worst habits of the students they complain about. Next week I'll think it's hilarious but right now the frustration is still too close.  I was curt with some of them but that's because that wasn't the time to get bogged down in what they wanted addressed at that particular moment in time.

In trying to create greater accountability at the school for our inventory and supplies, I'm treading on toes of those who like the way that things have been and don't feel the need to change (or just can't be bothered, perhaps). By asking them to be responsible and not allow students on computers that the teachers have logged on to, they feel I'm cramping their style. I could go on (bitterly) about that but I won't. Bottom line, you're an adult and you're here to teach and mentor, not to be 'liked.'

Ironically enough, I'm gaining a greater respect for 'the chain of command.' On Wednesday, a teacher tried to circumvent it in order to place a (false) complaint against my tech liaison. TL is a quiet fellow who is very knowledgeable about tech. He is extremely helpful, a hard worker as well as a proactive one. He is over-qualified for this position which is why I have mentally prepared myself for the day when he'll take another position. TL's already being courted by the district's tech services. Back to the complaint. The teacher's sense of self was offended when it was perceived that TL was being unhelpful. A call was then placed to the district office to lodge a 'formal complaint.' I was at the district office that day and walked in soon after she had called. Thankfully, the help desk had told her that this wasn't the venue for her complaint and to take it up with her administrator. I was also able to disabuse tech support of any false notion that TL was a problem. As soon as Miss High-and-Mighty makes it back to campus herself (oops- gave away the gender after having tried so hard for so long to keep it neutral).....let's just say that I'm going to straighten her out about the chain of command. Since it will be one on one, I'll be able to do the 'straightening' a little more diplomatically than I was able to do in yesterday's staff development. Funny, when I think back on yesterday, it was mainly from one department......perhaps I need to sit in on one of their meetings.

I'm seeing that if you really want to get something going in this position, at least 2-3 years of funding needs to be appropriated for it. At a school with high teacher turnover, you would want to get it going indefinitely because there will always be a rather significant crop of educators who need to be brought up to speed. The first year is a foundation year, a building year. You have to set up the infrastructure, evaluate the school's and teachers' needs before you can get to what the students need. You have to make sure that you have the supplies and support to start tackling it. Depending upon what has been established prior to that beginning, it could take a whole year before you've got the time to 'indulge' in what I think the beauty of this position is: creating curriculum.