Electric Minded

 I started reading the book Change Leader and I was inspired by the first few lines of the book expecting to see greatness at the turn of every page. Really, all you have to do is read the preface and the chapter titles. The rest of the book is trash. I am struggling to finish it. But I will and then it will all be over.

On the flip side, I do think education needs this book and I like that my district provided it to me. It is showing me that the district knows there are problems and that they know they aren't fixing it.

It is focusing on looking internally, at the organization and at your own abilities and working with a team to step up the game. I think this is exactly what can fix education. Teachers working together, teachers deciding what is going on, teachers focusing on what they know each other needs.

Why at the beginning of the year doesn't the principal ask us where we struggle? As teachers, I am sure we would share because we have to reflect on what we do daily. So instead of giving us pointless Professional Development on: Recess, How to group student work or how to put the unit in the answer of a math problem. We could be diving into the actual issues: some teachers struggle with classroom management, others with inspiring the students, others with finding ways to use the textbook without pulling your hair out. I personally, suck at test making. These are the things that we could really be focusing on and diving into. And every year it may change and every year it may not, depending if the teacher is satisfied with their improvement.

But it would be much more beneficial and we could have actual conversations about problems some teachers face daily. Wouldn't we all want to help those that we know are struggling with something, we personally, feel good about and strong with?

After I left the preschool, I said that never again would I want to be a principal, but depending on how things move around and things change in education. I could consider it. I am a natural leader, I am not some micromanaging bitch (hell, I don't even pay attention to the details). So I may have to consider it when I get burnt out on teaching (and again with these 95 hour weeks, it is possible that happens sooner than later).