IDK What to Title This Thing

That's honest; I really don't know what to title this post. I just know that I need to write, and here's my avenue:

• I survived? I think? I don't know. Probably. Towards the end of the semester, I got better at recognizing that my Teacher/Personal/Life To-Do List will never have all the items crossed off on it, so why fight it? Some things are more important today than others. Sleep is always important. Maintaining physical and mental health comes first. I have successfully maintained both, so let's say that I have survived!

• Graduate school is still BS. Even though I squeaked out good grades in both of my classes this semester, my opinion on the institution has not changed. In fact, it may have declined. The sad part? I've come to terms with the fact that grad school will be a part of my life through the Ph.D program I will inevitably complete. While I have time during this break, I may go back and explain my problems with my M.A.T. program at GSU as they go deep and wide. I promise though, not tonight.

• Maintaining a "personal life" and teaching is hard. Right now, it seems downright impossible, as all I see in my future are cats and balls of yarn. Internet dating, anyone? (I'm joking!) Seriously though, is internet dating in my imminent future? :O 

•  I'm super thankful for my job, the brilliant colleagues of mine who are directly responsible for keeping me from teetering over the proverbial mental edge, graduate school (grudgingly), and my wonderful family and friends who have supported me in this whirlwind year. To recap my year:
• November 2010: Accepted into grad school
• December 2010: Graduated with my undergrad degree/ Quit my part-time job of five years at the daycare
• January 2011: Began grad school
• February 2011: Started applying for teaching jobs
• April 2011: Hired as a science teacher in my beloved charter school :)
• May-July 2011: The ridiculous summer of 21 grad hour credits
• July/August 2011: Orientation at my beloved charter school
• August 16, 2011: First day of as an actual teacher at my beloved charter school
• December 16, 2011: End of first semester as an actual teacher at my beloved charter school

As much as I bitch about my life, I couldn't be more blessed. I asked for all of this, and I got it! While it is way more than I bargained for, I'm actually happy. Sure, some things and people have gotten left behind in this whirlwind, but I'm starting to see that it's for the better. 

Until 2012 (or sooner if I actually do the right thing and write)! Have a Happy Whatever-You-Celebrate (or Not). In my case, Merry Christmas! Happy New Year!

- Insane Teacher

Charter School Turnover

This article from the LA Times (it's in the feed as well) as popped up twice today in my personal sphere, in my Facebook feed and via email from a friend.

In short, the article discusses high teacher turnover in charters in Los Angeles. I suspect, though, that turnover in other charters across the nation are comparable...including mine. In fact, the principal mentioned the turnover during the interview. 

Of course, turnover is high here!

Yet, I still accepted the job knowing well that a nice percentage of my colleagues this year will not be back next year. I chalk the turnover to two things: the numbers of "hats" teachers in charters must wear and that teaching in a charter is more demanding than in a traditional public school. 

1. Because most charters operate with no input from the local school system, everyone in a charter school building has to do multiple things.* For example, one of our teachers is a teacher/website-updater-guy. Multitasking varies from charter to charter, and this may even occur at some traditional public schools. I'll venture an educated guess, though, and say that traditional public schools are likely to have a people dedicated to simply, say, website development or to data analysis. 

That brings up another point. With little to no non-financial resource input from local school systems and limited local funding, charters can't afford to hire people dedicated to a single, non-teaching job. As a result, everyone, including teachers, is likely to have some sort of "slash" in their official job title. 

* Some charters do have input both financially and otherwise, to a good extent,  from the local school system. To see what I'm talking, about, click here. 

2. Teaching anywhere is pressure-filled, especially during this current age of "accountability". Yet, after talking with non-charter teacher friends and some of my colleagues, I'm convinced that teaching in a charter is a bit more demanding (at least where I live). From the longer hours expected, the number of "hats" we wear to the fact that there is a contract hanging over our heads that basically says "Teach or else...", it's a lot to contend with, especially over a long period of time. 

Apologies for letting my freak flag fly.

With full knowledge of  the insanity, both perceived and real, that occur in charters and that comes with teaching in one, I took the job, because I believe in the mission of school. I believe in the people working there. Last, but not least, I believe in the leader that we have. The mix of these three factors convinced me that even throughout the madness of the school, we are all going to do great things. 

I'm extremely loyal to a fault (six years at a daycare as a part-time job through the end of high school through undergrad!). Probably a bit insane as well, so I'm good with my "crazy" charter teaching spot. 

My teaching hero?

Some people are not good with it, which is okay too. I believe that every good teacher has a school, where they can become excellent teacher. My charter is where I think I can become excellent, so while the odds are against anyone staying long-term , the odds have never phased me before. Besides, wouldn't want to work at Hogwarts the place where they can become excellent?

Thoughts on Charter School Ruling

For background and the ruling, visit the AJC Get Schooled Blog (click the link for the story).

Though I'm not a lawyer, I think that this was probably the right decision, legally-speaking. Because I've been following the story for awhile, I've been waiting for this ruling to happen: Charter School Commission is unconstitutional. If I were running on pure logic, I would say that what happened today was good. It's done and over with. All parties involved can just move on. The problem is I'm not running on pure logic, here, which makes me uncomfortable. My day, since hearing the ruling, has been uncomfortable. Here's why.

In my work as an intern, I've seen behind the curtains of one of these schools. I've seen the daily operations, I've worked with the teachers, and most importantly, I've worked with the students. Sure, it seems like a normal school. A visitor just dropping in to see what the fuss is about would complain that nothing seems out of the ordinary. She would ask what was so special about this place.

On a normal day, my answer would be a quick, curt shrug as I run pass the visitor. However, catch me in a reflective mode, and... I still would not know how to respond properly. I really don't know what is so special about this school. I can't pinpoint it. However, ask me about my students and I'd tell you stories about conversations we have during rare free minutes. (My favorite: Their warning to me about becoming a teacher.) Or I might tell you about a day where they rocked the lesson. Or I might tell you about the assembly from last week, where I saw one of the best poets I've have ever had the pleasure of listening to and watching. And she was only in the seventh grade!

As I typed that, I smiled as I remember all of the...awesomeness I've experienced over the past year in this internship. Make no mistake though, it was not easy experiencing all this. I've experienced many hardships in this job, and I'm just an intern. However, I would and will be doing it again and again just to see how far my students have gone in only a year. Not only that, I would (and will) do it again, so they can see how far they have gone. What is really awesome is that they want to keep going! I didn't start thinking about college seriously until high school. (Not to mention, that I recently figured out what I'm going to do with life!) To me, that's priceless.

As a result, logic does not win today.I'm uncomfortable, because I'm truly saddened by today's news. I'm sad for my students and those at the other charters affected. I wouldn't necessarily consider myself a proponent of charters, though I don't consider myself an opponent. They all aren't magic pills that will cure all the evils in education. However, for the ones that are cure for the common school for the students and their parents that choose to send them, why not fund them so that they can exist? Perhaps school systems can collaborate with them instead of compete with them, so everyone can improve.

Long-term, who knows what will happen to the charters affected and their students? I don't, but I know this. I support whatever works in favor of my kids. This ruling ruled against my kids. You do the logic.