Finding voice and greetings to a new friend! September 5, 2008
Posted by techxas in Campus Technology.Tags: administration, blog, blogging, collaboration, exchange, friendship, librarian, perspective, professional, sharing, supervision, teacher, vision, voice
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A few weeks ago, I deleted over 86 of my Twitter groups I was following. I cleared out the blogs I was following and I completely archived this blog.
I lost my voice.
The voice I want to portray in this blog.
I am trying to figure out what I want that voice to be.
I am as Toffler says “learning, unlearning, and relearning” even in my own blog.
I have been continually writing but keeping the posts private. So that I can fine tune my voice. So that I can make sure that what I write is about what I believe and what I want to represent me.
So, I will keep working at it.
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Meanwhile I am happy to report that my previous employer has found a new technology coordinator who is going to take them to new heights! I had the pleasure of extending a hello to this guy and I am really excited for him and the possibilities at that place. They are really forward-thinking and moving into a really good direction. I remember where we were when I started there and I imagine his first few days and weeks just trying to find the cafeteria, a bathroom, and a quiet place to just absorb all the energy of that place.
I remember having a co-worker who showed me the ropes from his side and helped get me situated. I remember the two of us splitting the responsibilities and his help to get me going, meet all the new people, and helping me to be successful. That person is gone from the district. And now, this new guy has inherited all of the roles and responsibilities that were originally assigned to two, then to three, down to one, and now on his own shoulders.
I don’t believe in abandoning the place where I invested my heart and learned as much if not more than what I brought to the table. I don’t believe that I should leave a place to “figure it out” on their own. I also think it is absolutely disgusting to offer to help in exchange for something from them. Isn’t our field to support learning no matter where we are? Aren’t we by nature supposed to help and not hinder?
First do no harm?
I sincerely want ALL schools and education systems to be successful. And I want ALL teachers - and teachers include technology coordinators, librarians, principals, etc. - to be successful as well. Take whatever you need. Share.
Watershed Moment September 4, 2008
Posted by techxas in Campus Technology.Tags: exciting, happiness, inspiring, job, motivation, placement, supervision, watershed
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I posted this one as a private diary. I shared it with my critical friends to show how much more happier and challenged I am in this place.
I am ready to share it now.
From 08/27/2008
So today it happened. Today was the “watershed” moment. That moment when I realized that this job, this role, is perfect for me.
I had an appointment to speak in the superintendent’s office today. I thought it would be to answer for why the Internet keeps crashing or why the servers go down. Skyward crashed on the first day. Our database was corrupted so at 10:00am on Monday, access to Skyward was down until 7:30am the next day. And then on Tuesday, lightning hit so close that it knocked all of our servers offline for 20 minutes. Email, Internet, everything offline. And since July 24, our ISP has been on and off depending on their mood. It has been unpredictable day to day to say the least!
This irregularity with technology was part of the inquisition with the superintendents this morning. But I held my ground and answered as best as I could. At one point, the supt. asked if everything was going to work for the long haul. I answered, “It’s all working right now.” And I think they all understood what I was saying which was that there are never any guarantees when it comes to technology.
The thing about that part of the meeting is that I was able to watch them interact with me. They valued my opinion and respected what I said. And maybe I put on a good show. I have to admit, I don’t know all the technical aspects of servers and software. I can’t explain it in technical terms, but I was able to relate it to them in their own terms. To me, the best part of it is that they asked. They asked to understand it. And that is very rare.
I have not experienced genuine concern in my career over what I do. I have experienced genuine concern for my well-being and for my work load. But it has been very rare for any of my supervisors to want to know about the work itself and what I think about the work. I think this is the idea of “SuperVision” I learned about in grad school. What I experienced today and since July 1 is the type of supervision that is supportive.
In the past, my supervisors were assigned to be over technology but they did not understand it. They did not know much about technology themselves nor did they concern themselves with learning more about it. They just wanted the technology to work. They wanted the teachers to be pacified knowing that things would work at least 80% of their days. A growth plan for me wasn’t in the cards! My “evaluation” each year was the same one given to paraprofessional staff. I was evaluated on my ability to dress nice, answer requests with a smile, and to multitask.
In 2007, I was recognized at the state level as being the best at what I do. I was recognized on the website for my campus only because I was the web master and typed it there myself.
Can you understand my frustration?
Today, I had four supervisors around the table supporting me. Four of them equally amazed and inquisitive about my opinions and ideas. The four top-level administrators for the district were interested in what I was showing them. They weren’t texting on their cell phones during the meeting (I do that, though and need to stop it) and they weren’t distractedly talking to each other in hushed whispers.
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Today, I was asked to share. And that is why I fit where I am. It isn’t the perfect job. It does have its faults at times. But it is the perfect fit for me for right now.
Recently someone in the district asked me “where have you been???”. Such an honor to get that question! I answered honestly, “I have been getting ready to come here and do this job. I have been getting the training needed to serve your needs. I’ve been getting molded and shaped to fit into this role.”
Sure, our servers crash. And our Internet service provider is on the entire city’s s*** list. But they hired me to share. They hired me to teach. They hired me to make change happen. And I realized today that they really want it. Other places say they want change but they won’t commit to the pain that progress brings.
This blog. This post. I can’t even put into words how exciting, invigorating, inspiring this is. But it really is motivating. And I am so happy and touched to be in this place! I wake up ready to work. I leave waiting to return. I really feel connected to this place and want to share more with them.
They have reinvigorated me to be the best teacher I can be. This is the same feeling as that first perfect lesson taught in the first year. Life-changing and affirming. Thank you KISD.
