To be or not to be...
Dr.Mortimore (our principal) called me in Thursday afternoon to talk. She set up the meeting to talk about my 'future' with the school... something I haven't put a whole lot of thought and energy into lately. There is so much to do to finish my Masters, help my student teacher in her last few weeks, get skinny for the cruise (stop laughing), etc... that I haven't stopped to wonder where I'm going or what my plans are. It's almost like I'm in 'survival' mode-- one minute at a time.
So, the meeting started with small talk about Math Curriculum and planning. How are we going to improve our test scores? How are we going to teach our students to problem solve? And then it came, "Tell me how you see your future here Carie", and the "oh, shit... I didn't plan for this" immediately came to mind.
Dr.Mortimore has a vision to open 2 more schools on our campus at 15th and Center. Each school would function somewhat independently, yet be connected through common teaching and practices. The second school was scheduled to open this year, but has been postponed for a variety of reasons until Fall 2007. And where do I play into all of this? She needs 2 principals for 2007 and she wants them to come from within.
After dropping a few F-bombs in my head, I started entertaining the idea. It's always been a thought and plan to move into Administration someday. However, I didn't plan for 'someday' coming so soon. It wasn't a job offer conversation as much as it was putting her feelers out for where I stood on the idea. Her and I have talked and joked a few times before that I will fill her shoes when she is done... but I thought she'd be wearing the shoes a little longer...
The plan is for someone to take over her role as principal in the current school, and a second person to take the role of principal in the new school. Dr.Mortimore will assume the Executive Director role and mentor and monitor both principals along the way. She wants to start meeting weekly to begin discussing and planning and sharing her vision of 2 new principals. Yeah, I'm still dropping a few F-bombs in my head.
It's a great opportunity. It is something that I wanted eventually, I just didn't plan for it to happen so soon.
Jason and I have just begun to talk about it and the impact it would have on us. It will definitely add an additional challenge to starting a family now... but, he has always said that he is more than happy to be Mr.Mom if need be :) The lighter side of the opportunity is that nothing is permanent. If it isn't the right fit for me, I can easily turn around and go right back to the comforts of my crazy classroom full of 3rd graders.
It sounds silly, but one of the things I am most worried about is the political side of being a principal in an urban Milwaukee charter school. There is a lot of controversy over state and local funding for education and how it is distributed... especially amidst a failing public school system. The Milwaukee public school district has one of the lowest graduation rates in the country. Only 34% of students graduate from high school in Milwaukee... hence, the reason for charter schools like ours who are trying very hard to do it 'different' and motivate urban students in Milwaukee to value education.
So... that is what's on the plate at the Brocks these days... to be or not to be....that is the question...
So, the meeting started with small talk about Math Curriculum and planning. How are we going to improve our test scores? How are we going to teach our students to problem solve? And then it came, "Tell me how you see your future here Carie", and the "oh, shit... I didn't plan for this" immediately came to mind.
Dr.Mortimore has a vision to open 2 more schools on our campus at 15th and Center. Each school would function somewhat independently, yet be connected through common teaching and practices. The second school was scheduled to open this year, but has been postponed for a variety of reasons until Fall 2007. And where do I play into all of this? She needs 2 principals for 2007 and she wants them to come from within.
After dropping a few F-bombs in my head, I started entertaining the idea. It's always been a thought and plan to move into Administration someday. However, I didn't plan for 'someday' coming so soon. It wasn't a job offer conversation as much as it was putting her feelers out for where I stood on the idea. Her and I have talked and joked a few times before that I will fill her shoes when she is done... but I thought she'd be wearing the shoes a little longer...
The plan is for someone to take over her role as principal in the current school, and a second person to take the role of principal in the new school. Dr.Mortimore will assume the Executive Director role and mentor and monitor both principals along the way. She wants to start meeting weekly to begin discussing and planning and sharing her vision of 2 new principals. Yeah, I'm still dropping a few F-bombs in my head.
It's a great opportunity. It is something that I wanted eventually, I just didn't plan for it to happen so soon.
Jason and I have just begun to talk about it and the impact it would have on us. It will definitely add an additional challenge to starting a family now... but, he has always said that he is more than happy to be Mr.Mom if need be :) The lighter side of the opportunity is that nothing is permanent. If it isn't the right fit for me, I can easily turn around and go right back to the comforts of my crazy classroom full of 3rd graders.
It sounds silly, but one of the things I am most worried about is the political side of being a principal in an urban Milwaukee charter school. There is a lot of controversy over state and local funding for education and how it is distributed... especially amidst a failing public school system. The Milwaukee public school district has one of the lowest graduation rates in the country. Only 34% of students graduate from high school in Milwaukee... hence, the reason for charter schools like ours who are trying very hard to do it 'different' and motivate urban students in Milwaukee to value education.
So... that is what's on the plate at the Brocks these days... to be or not to be....that is the question...
posted by Brocks at 7:44 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home