From Serial Killer to Global Pandemic and Everything In Between

I’ve read many teacher posts about their “official” retirement this week. I got to thinking: When is a teacher’s official retirement? Is it the day you turn in your keys and walk out the door, or is it the first day the buses roll in the fall?  For me, it was that day that I gave my classroom keys to the teacher who would be in my room next year. I got there early because I wanted one last look at my room. I needed that sense of closure. But he had already started to make that room his own. It wasn’t my room to say goodbye to anymore. It was a new room to welcome a new future.  That first few days of summer, I just relaxed. I slept in until 8 or later, read books, sat in the sunshine and read books, and spent time at the lake. I was so exhausted from the school year that those first few days didn’t feel like retirement. Even the retirement luncheon, which should have felt like a rite of passage, didn’t feel final.  However, the day my email stopped, and the account was closed, I felt t

 When I started teaching in West Virginia, we were given three personal days each school year. If I remember correctly, we could "save" a maximum of five, and then we lost whatever we had over that. I made it a habit of using any personal days that I had in surplus over those 5 days. Our surplus days didn't roll over into sick days then, they just vanished. I always felt that if you didn't use that benefit, you were short-changing yourself. After all, we sure as heck didn't make much money in those days. My starting salary in 1983 was $14,000. To me, those personal days were part of my salary that shouldn't be wasted.  I got into the habit of taking a personal day or two each year. I found that a well-placed day off - especially during that long stretch from January to April usually meant that I got some rest and that my kids were getting a better teacher when I came back.  Then, fifteen years into my career we moved to North Carolina. Here in North Carolina,

I want to admit that I was probably the world's worst teacher that first year. Sometimes I wish I could go back and shake hands with all my students and apologize. I also truly believe that any teacher who thinks that they were perfect their first year, is lying to themselves. No one gets this job just right the first year.  I knew that with experience I would get better, but I also knew that I had a long way to go until I had the hang of this teaching thing. So, I decided to work on ONE thing that summer to get better. I chose classroom management. That was the summer that I read Wong - The First Day's of School. I know that book and Wong's theories are controversial now, but the point is, I reflected on my teaching and chose to improve something. I also talked to a lot of other teachers to get tips and tricks for managing their classrooms. Of course, things were a lot different in the '80s. What I mostly heard was, "Don't smile 'til Christmas!"  I al

 I am asked this question all of the time. Are you going to work this summer? Are you planning to teach summer school?  The quick answer for me is NO! However, I do attend workshops that interest me, participate in PLCs, and plan the summer orientation for our incoming freshmen. But, I do NOT overwhelm my summer with school work.  I have worked long enough to understand the importance of renewing my energy over the summer. I have learned to take a very nice (but short, so that I can afford it) vacation that begins on Memorial Day so that the travel rates are a little cheaper. On these trips, I spoil myself for just a few days. I eat when I want to eat, I sleep when I want to sleep,  go see new things, and best of all, someone takes care of me for a few days. I love having the hotel room cleaned up for me because I've spent the last 10 months taking care of others, so this makes me feel like someone is taking care of me for a change.  Those vacations are usually short because I woul

 I tell my students amazing stories every day. In fact, they are beginning to ask questions just to see if I have any stories. Sometimes I do - sometimes I don't.  I have been in education for 38 years. My dad was in education for 40 years. Between us, we met a lot of people, saw a lot of things, and had a lot of great stories to tell.  During one of my first years of teaching, I had a student who was a serial killer. This year, one of my last, I taught through a global pandemic.  This blog will be all about stories and lessons learned.  I hope you laugh, cry and find some inspiration.