Each year, my head spins from the complexities of the job: communication, parents, discipline, instruction, professional development, politics (which shouldn't even rate..........), transportation, food service, custodians, field trips, students with no running water, abusive home environments. I could go on and on. Jim, my handy dandy assistant principal told me that sometimes he feels like he's caught in a vortex.
If we, as administrators, feel like this, then how do our teachers feel? Each year we ask more and more of them. I've asked that they communicate with parents in several different modes. I ask that they serve on committees. I ask that they help organize family events for our school. And, of course I ask them to continually improve instruction and change from a more traditional way of teaching to a style more conducive to the 21st century. By asking all of this, I have put my teachers in a vortex. And, I fear, this vortex is spinning so fast they might have a hard time getting out.
With what we do everyday, what is most important? This is the question I have to answer (with my teachers). Can we do without posting all assignments on the website, if we have students write them in the planner? Can we do without so many committees (time wasters)? And, what can we do without in the classroom? (This is the hard question because I am trying to get teachers to let go of worksheets, spelling tests, mundane classroom activities that do not require students to think).
All of this will take passion, vision, drive and strength. Sometimes I'm not sure if I can pull it off. In fact, I know I can't if I don't have the teachers with me. I also know that I need help from above. God, please show me the path that we need to take. Please be with us as we try to prioritize these tasks and do what is best for children. God, please help us out of the vortex................
