Missing...

I love technology. The access to information and forms of communication that we, and especially younger people have access to, is amazing. I was just gmail chatting with a former student from a few years back and was able to catch up on how well his family was doing and how he was doing in school, even though now hundreds of miles separate us.

There are many benefits to being the building principal. I get a chance to see a variety of teaching practices and strategies, but one thing the principal side doesn't give you, and teaching does, is that wonderful relationship and culture that your classroom gives you. The deep relationships to families and students you establish on a day in, day out basis is something I miss deeply, which I felt after chatting with one of my fellow students.

The teaching profession, for all of its challenges, still, in my mind, is the greatest of professions because you get to interact with the future while in the present. When I reflect back on my life (in all of my 35+ years ;) I ask myself this question: What would I be without Ms. Anderson, who, in third grade, listened to my poems, however obscure. Or Mr. Ross, who always teased me (in a good way) during reading groups. Conversely, what would I be if I hadn't had Mr. Heinz, the most boring 5th teacher ever? All of these people, both high performing and sub-par have shaped me and added to me and made me what I am today. What a responsibility educators have.

What a responsibility!