Today was the last late start.
We wrote appreciative thoughts on a hand, talked about our PLC success (but only in our PLC groups), were given next year’s PLC/RTI schedule, and then candy was given to those who make collaboration sweet.
Seven days of school left and I got to write my thoughts down on a paper hand. This is a good thing, though, because I wrote nice things about Jennifer Henrikson, who teaches math next door to me. The only bad thing was that I had to use the hand given me–it should have been the size of Shaq’s hand to display all the wonderful things she does for me and others.
That’s what makes teaching tough for me–I know, I know, I get it. I’m sucky because students want to take classes that I teach. That makes me horrible and I don’t get many props from my peers, you know what I’m saying?
Jen is not me. She is one of the nicest, most giving, honest people I’ve had the pleasure to work with. She is a sounding board for my frustrations, can laugh at herself, and understands the game of teaching. The closet–the one she fills with calories for me and others–is a wonderful thing, but it’s secondary to her character when it comes to the adults and students. I am so happy to have a room next to her because she only complains now and again when I play Black Sabbath at peak volume or scream like Sam Kinison when trying to pull an answer out of my students. She also knows who Black Sabbath and Sam Kinison are, too.
She has taught every math class imaginable, including English when we needed someone to take a section. Always up for anything, she has been nothing but a team player. I think her schedule changed about four or five times this year alone before it got solidified. No big deal because she knows her material and has taught it all before. Oh, she’s also flexible.
I don’t like to write nice things about others, especially because it ties that person to me, which is not a good thing these days. Sorry, Jen, but I waited 172 days to do it.
Here’s the deal–we end our meetings with something called “you make collaboration sweet.” As if our school isn’t divided enough with the haves and have-nots, we get to end with our staff being recognized for “what they do” at school. And, we’re lucky we have run out of late starts because so many teachers have been repeat winners. Is that the way we want our classrooms to run? Should we keep rewarding the same kids over and over while the others who do their jobs get left out?
Jen has never been recognized by administration or peers (because after admin gives one candy out, the recipient picks someone else) in this end of meeting activity. I haven’t either. There’s been a group that has, and a group that hasn’t.
It’s probably nothing. After all, we are a Gold Ribbon school.