What a year it has been.
This time last year, I was struggling. I knew I needed a change. I love what I do, so I knew I didn't want to stray far from that. I was preparing for a job interview in a district that would have required a move for my family. The district was one that had made a significant investment in digital learning, so I was excited about possibly working with those that shared similar passions. I didn't get the job. Yes, I was disappointed, but the person that did get it was without question a better fit. Life goes on. Then, on a Saturday afternoon in March, along with every other educator in my district, I listened as the governor closed school buildings down effectively immediately. No chance to regroup and continue planning as we were doing the day before. It was go time. The way the district handled this - the district where I worked at the time - was pretty crappy. No clear guidance. No regard for the folks that actually were doing the teaching. Way too many direction changes. Things had been stressful before, but now - I knew staying was going to kill me. I loved working from home. I met with people via phone and Meet or Zoom. The level of support I was able to provide did not skip a beat! But there were things going on behind the scenes that I could not allow myself to blindly accept. I was ready to leave education entirely rather than be a part of what was going on in the department where I worked. Then, a friend sent me a text. He knew I was actively looking for a change and suggested I apply for a job that he noticed had recently been posted in a neighboring district. I applied. Even though being an outsider would make my job more difficult, I am very thankful the district took a chance on me. I was able to leave the drama behind. You know what? So did about eight other people from the department in the months that followed. So 2020 may have presented everyone with many hurdles, for some of us, it provided new opportunities. Here's hoping that 2021 will be even better.
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AuthorJeannie Timken Archives
March 2023
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