I've packed my bags, my desk, and my big girl panties and have made my way to a new job in a new district with new people. My plate is full right now! I left the classroom 3 years ago to pursue a technology specialist position. That decision led me on a whirlwind of experiences the past 2 years as I left the financial security of working in a large district behind to try my hand in a smaller district just north of my city. It was an eye opener being in such a close community. Outsider was never an uglier word in my vocabulary, but that's what I was: an outsider. It took me almost 2 years just to get some teachers to even SMILE at me! By the end of 2 years I had learned a lot about myself and gained some humility as well. And then I decided to leave.
Here I am again on my own. I just started a new gig over in a metro area, in a very large district on a team of 10 instructional technologists, and I'm quickly realizing I will miss my old job. I don't dislike this one, it's just a whole new world of educational politics and big-district bureaucracy. I am used to saying "I have an idea!" and someone saying, "Go for it!". So far, in my new position, I've had a few ideas but have been told the dreaded "That's not how we do it here". There's no other way to say it...I'm sad.
Let me be clear, though: I'm not trying to bash my new gig. The people have been great here. The district is very successful and people want to live within our boundaries so to their kids can come to these schools. This is just the lamentation of someone who values creativity more than convention, freedom more than money, and innovation over standardization. Also, I'm about actions, not words. I want to make things happen and I've got a long road ahead of me. As my buddy Ann would say, find the silver lining and learn from this because it's going be a benefit in the long run.
Okay, Ann. Challenge accepted ;-)
