Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Nashville: Permanent...oh crap
My school principal is a nun. That may or may not be important information but i shared it anyways lol. She has been doing tons of work in education policy and educational leadership over the past 65 years. Yes, she is old. Quite old to be running a new school but her passion for the uplift of our community is stronger than any other person I know. Part of my reasoning for staying with her schools was for that very reason. We talk often about the state of Black youth, the state of the Metro school district, and ways to help change the outcome for the future of Black America. Last night she said "Stanley (cuz everyone seems to drop the Mr. these days lol), im old. I'm too old to be running a school but I have to. I'm starting this so you can finish it. I should be sitting at home praying your through this, not doing the work." She goes on to talk about how we are to fine tune things this year. She also has the dream of opening the one of the first charter high schools in the district which she was denied this past year. I also expressed my career goals in the beginning. I want to become a Superintendent and I also want to open a school. Well before I take her home she says to me "Stanley, I really hope that you will stay apart of the Project Reflect family. We have plans to grow even larger and would support your endeavors in starting your own school". I am rarely ever speechless but after she said that I was at a complete loss for words. This lady is giving me my first teaching job and is now my financial backing for my very own school. Looks like I'll be applying to some Masters programs for Educational Leadership lol.
Open House "The Calling"
I don't think i have had a more powerful conviction in life than my calling to teach. I considered so many options as a child but most of them were ludacris at best. Like my dream to become a bus driver. Who the hell dreams to be a bus driver?!?! Luckily I returned back to teaching.
Something made me gravitate to this job offer. I originally had a position offered to me from KIPP Academy Nashville. It paid well, had the benefits I needed, and generally provided me with the opportunity to make a difference (which is all teacher's cliche reasoning for teaching). However I turned this position down to be unemployed for a month, be unsure of my salary, and lose a month of my summer for this new position. Why? Only God knows, but I felt so strongly that this where the Lord wanted me to be. So I originally took this position under the impression that I would be teaching Algebra 1, Geometry, and Grammar Composition. COOL! BET! Until i got a phone call a week later saying "Mr. Stanley, do you think you could teaching every subject?" A self-contained class of all boys is now my teaching assignment. I will teach Algebra 1, English 9, Grammar & Composition, Physical Science, and World History. LOL. Sounds intense? Well it is but luckily the curriculum we are using comes with lesson plans.
Our Open House was last night and the parents learned about how this school would operate. Extended school year, extended school day, learning in portables, etc. As I gave some information, I began to watch the facial expressions on the parents faces. Some disapproving but others had a face of despair. This school is the saving grace for many of these children. These parents want the best for their children and have either been denied access to the finer schools Nashville has to offer or are terrified about the possible outcomes their child has from attending schools within the district. After talking to several parents last night, I felt a very strong conviction. One that has me both anxious and excited, but also nervous and worried. This is my first year as a teacher and as much as I think I know, there is so much I don't. I want these parents to see their children meet the goals and better lives they desire and I honestly don't know how to do that. That's the most frightening thing to me. These parents are trusting me to give their children the best education there is to offer. So I left last night with a lot of emotions but the one that lingered the strongest I think is gratefulness. God, my "principal", my colleagues, my friends, these parents all see the greatness in me that I don't always see. I'm grateful for this opportunity. These boys' success and failures will be the direct result of my work ethic and in my class no one fails.
Something made me gravitate to this job offer. I originally had a position offered to me from KIPP Academy Nashville. It paid well, had the benefits I needed, and generally provided me with the opportunity to make a difference (which is all teacher's cliche reasoning for teaching). However I turned this position down to be unemployed for a month, be unsure of my salary, and lose a month of my summer for this new position. Why? Only God knows, but I felt so strongly that this where the Lord wanted me to be. So I originally took this position under the impression that I would be teaching Algebra 1, Geometry, and Grammar Composition. COOL! BET! Until i got a phone call a week later saying "Mr. Stanley, do you think you could teaching every subject?" A self-contained class of all boys is now my teaching assignment. I will teach Algebra 1, English 9, Grammar & Composition, Physical Science, and World History. LOL. Sounds intense? Well it is but luckily the curriculum we are using comes with lesson plans.
Our Open House was last night and the parents learned about how this school would operate. Extended school year, extended school day, learning in portables, etc. As I gave some information, I began to watch the facial expressions on the parents faces. Some disapproving but others had a face of despair. This school is the saving grace for many of these children. These parents want the best for their children and have either been denied access to the finer schools Nashville has to offer or are terrified about the possible outcomes their child has from attending schools within the district. After talking to several parents last night, I felt a very strong conviction. One that has me both anxious and excited, but also nervous and worried. This is my first year as a teacher and as much as I think I know, there is so much I don't. I want these parents to see their children meet the goals and better lives they desire and I honestly don't know how to do that. That's the most frightening thing to me. These parents are trusting me to give their children the best education there is to offer. So I left last night with a lot of emotions but the one that lingered the strongest I think is gratefulness. God, my "principal", my colleagues, my friends, these parents all see the greatness in me that I don't always see. I'm grateful for this opportunity. These boys' success and failures will be the direct result of my work ethic and in my class no one fails.
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