Stuff I've been working on....

Parking--still an issue. But maybe this will help. Today I made cute little parking passes, laminated them and delivered them. Good times. For a while I put off the parking issue because it clearly isn't the most pressing academic need--but when staff bug me about it a few times a day, it does start to impact academics. It was time to act.

Here's the letter to the staff:

Hi Staff,

I get multiple expressions of concern about parking each week--this is our attempt to respond. We are interested in everyone having a place to park; we are also aware of the fact that we are a school within a neighborhood, and that parking is scarce. In an attempt to alleviate some of the parking strains, we have created some very simple parking passes. They will be delivered to your mailbox and should be used starting next week.

If staff are assigned a spot on the front circle, they have a "parking pass" which says "front circle."
All staff will be given a pass for the Hedge Road parking lot in the back. Please put the pass on the dashboard somewhere. The pass for H Road only helps us know that you are a staff member, but does not guarantee that there will actually be a spot. Creating more parking spots is clearly an issue on another level.

While we have no way of enforcing the parking with parking tickets, we will leave notes on cars to remind people that they must park elsewhere. Over time, this should have an effect. Please help interns, substitutes and student teachers with recommendations for street parking.

Police are strict about ticketing (as many of you know), especially for parking in handicapped spots, or when blocking sidewalks. However, they have relaxed the two hour limit for two hour spots. If you have a specific concern about a ticket, you have the right to contest the ticket and may come to speak to Tim or me about the circumstances if a letter of support is in order.

No doubt, this policy will alleviate some problems and likely create new and different concerns. Please come to me with those.

Thanks, and as always, your feedback is welcome.

A day--no, really, a DAY.

Well, it's 3:10--

Make that 3:15--I just gave a mini-tutorial on iPhoto for someone who walked in with a laptop.

Well, so it is. There are days that will bring me close to tears. Sometimes it's just a lot. Nothing in and of itself was so bad, but all compiled into 8 hours and 15 minutes (so far--) it feels like anyone would be about spent. Not that teaching doesn't do the same on some days, but this is definitely a different sort of overwhelmed than I felt in the classroom on crazy days. Those who are thinking about administrative stuff--this would be an important post to read.

Despite its simple style, I'm just going to list the day's events without a whole lot of commentary. I would say, right now, that will just be therapeutic so I can finish out the day and get the rest of my work done. Just to clarify--this is still the job for me, and in an odd way, I love being this crazy and busy...maybe that's why it's the job for me.

7:00 Arrival.

7:00 Meet with a special ed person who is dropping off some resumes for some very hard to fill positions in our special ed program. Worry about the special ed program because everyone in there is sick today, on top of the hiring dilemma.

7:10 Talk to a student who came in WAY to early this morning

7:15 Look through resumes and decide who to call for today's visits.

7:20 Write and email "Daily News" with the day's announcements

7:30 Go say hello to kids who are eating breakfast in the cafeteria

7:40 Welcome kids at the front door (who are SOAKING wet. It was pouring this morning)

7:45 Open up theatre and turn on lights so kids can wait inside for classes to start

7:55 Monitor hallways as kids go to class

8:00 Take a potential interview candidate to see the special ed program

8:15 Find out that one of the teachers from the special ed classroom has fallen down the stairs, hurt her wrist and must immediately go get xrays

8:20 Bring the candidate downstairs and do a quick interview

8:40 Visit the ELL open house and say hello to parents

9:00 Meet with police officers. Today is our lockdown drill!!!

9:15 Lockdown drill begins. I walk through silent hallways with shades drawn, doors locked and lights off. Creepy. And, I get to speak into the police walky talky in my office.

9:30 Lockdown drill ends, we meet with the officers again

9:40 I walk another job candidate up to look at the classroom

9:50 Conduct a short follow up interview with candidate (and she's great...hooray!)

10:15 Follow up with one more candidate (who has been waiting patiently for 20 minutes) and drop him off to observe a classroom

10:20 Drop into a behavior plan meeting already in progress and stay for 20 minutes before continuing the conversation with the candidate back in the office.

10:40 Meet with candidate in office, while another waits.

I like to be on time, and I like to honor other peoples' time. I finally leave the meeting--sometimes there are two places to be at once.

11:00 Meet with another candidate and then meet with principal to talk about all candidates for a few minutes

11:20 Bring in another candidate.

11:30 It begins pouring outside after having been sunny for over an hour. Crap. Rainy Day recess needs to be sorted out. Head out to do that while principal completes interview.

11:40 Monitor lunch and rainy day recess for 4 different lunch periods. When it becomes sunny, I'm ready to send kids outside, but the principal thinks there is too much water on the concrete on the field. On one hand, kids might get muddy, on the other--I have to entertain the wild group inside. Kids are super grumpy when they're inside, but look outside to see sun. I have to admit, that makes me a little grumpy too.

1:30 Finally finish indoor recess.

1:30 Meeting with PTO parents to discuss the recess thing. For those who are reading the blog, you'll know I've been working on this project. Well, I have the money, we have hired someone and we start this week! Hooray! PTO is excited and wants to take "before" data so we can compare results after implementing the program.

I agree to be a "goalie" at Pumpkinfest, dodging soccer balls to raise money for 2 hours.

2:00 Dismissal--head out to the traffic circle to play traffic cop. "Please stay in your car, this is a fire lane." "Please stay in your car, this is a fire lane." "Hi! Please. Stay in your car? This is a fire lane."

2:20 Meet with the townwide jazzband director who I've found practice space for at our school. I check to see if he's ok with his space and he asks kids to give me a round of applause for finding them a space. I had no idea it was such a big deal! Sometimes it's the little things. I take a bow.

2:25 Head back outside to the traffic circle to wait with kids who are getting on the bus. Say hello and goodbye to many many parents and kids and have lots of mini-conversations: there aren't enough bike racks, my child was hit with a lunch bag at lunch today, thanks for you hard work, so and so gives too much homework, what is your discipline policy, why can't I park here? etc. etc. etc.

(upon rereading this days later, I realize how incredibly grumpy this post is! Jeez!)

2:45 Come back in and answer 15 emails. Most are quick. Make final phone calls for final interviews tomorrow. I think we may have found the people for the job.

3:00 Dig through the pile that my mailbox has become. Cook and eat my lunch.

4:00 Finish blog after a conversation about providing resources for our more advanced students.

Eat a Jolly Rancher. MMM. Watermelon.