Finally, a break. Over the next week, I'll be hanging around Houston, possibly taking a day-trip or two around Texas. A friend from home will be in town next week. My plan until then is to sleep a lot, eat good food, get back to the gym, read a book (or two?), and solidify my plans for next year.
Here's a video from dismissal the other day for your enjoyment. Two of my students (Fabian and Kevin) re-enacting a Matrix scene. They're hilarious.
Saturday, March 15, 2008
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Bulldog Dinner
Sunday night, I hosted 18 Bulldogs who were in town for Alternative Spring Break. We had a great time and afterwards I convinced them to try The Chocolate Bar down the street--the most amazing dessert diner ever created!For the group, I made more spaghetti than I think I've made in my life to this point--I definitely felt like a cafeteria lady!
Monday, March 10, 2008
Professional Developments
Today was a busy day working so that I have options for this summer and next year.
This morning, I had my science specialist interview with the district. I have to clear the district hurdle before I can interview with my principal. Overall, I felt that it went very well. They said that my answers and the goals I presented were very impressive for a second-year teacher.
This afternoon, I received a phone call from the national TFA office. They wanted to setup a phone interview for the Program Director position I applied for a week and a half ago. Hopefully, this interview will take place sometime this week.
Tonight, I was offered the Corps Member Advisor position with TFA for the summer institute in Houston. I accepted the position and was very excited to hear that several friends (Emily, Adam, Sam, Beth) were offered positions as well. This means that I'll be spending all of June and half of July training about 18 new corps members in the ways of TFA. I'll be their first TFA coach and will be their "training supervisor" during the summer training program.
Exciting things are finally happening.
This morning, I had my science specialist interview with the district. I have to clear the district hurdle before I can interview with my principal. Overall, I felt that it went very well. They said that my answers and the goals I presented were very impressive for a second-year teacher.
This afternoon, I received a phone call from the national TFA office. They wanted to setup a phone interview for the Program Director position I applied for a week and a half ago. Hopefully, this interview will take place sometime this week.
Tonight, I was offered the Corps Member Advisor position with TFA for the summer institute in Houston. I accepted the position and was very excited to hear that several friends (Emily, Adam, Sam, Beth) were offered positions as well. This means that I'll be spending all of June and half of July training about 18 new corps members in the ways of TFA. I'll be their first TFA coach and will be their "training supervisor" during the summer training program.
Exciting things are finally happening.
He Put His Money...
In Friday's NYTimes, TFA alumnus Zeke Vanderhoek talks about his new charter school opening in NYC this Fall. What makes this one so unique? Well, for starters, teachers earn a six-figure salary!
In this grand experiment, teachers will earn $125k/year while the principal (Vanderhoek) will only earn $90k/year. He'll have to earn the rest through bonuses based on school performance. And all of the school's funding is from public resources--no private subsidies here.
I think this is an incredible opportunity to show how increased teacher pay can attract the best from the top of academia to teach students from the lowest socio-economic strata. It's very exciting that this whole idea is finally being in place by a former TFA teacher.
I'll be very interested to hear how this school turns out--I'm expecting to see amazing results.
In this grand experiment, teachers will earn $125k/year while the principal (Vanderhoek) will only earn $90k/year. He'll have to earn the rest through bonuses based on school performance. And all of the school's funding is from public resources--no private subsidies here.
I think this is an incredible opportunity to show how increased teacher pay can attract the best from the top of academia to teach students from the lowest socio-economic strata. It's very exciting that this whole idea is finally being in place by a former TFA teacher.
I'll be very interested to hear how this school turns out--I'm expecting to see amazing results.
A New York City charter school is promising to pay teachers $125,000, plus a potential performance bonus.
AIDS Walk
This weekend, I participated with several other TFA friends in AIDS Walk Houston. We raised over $2800 for the event and got to walk with Houston Mayor Bill White!Some interesting facts that I learned Sunday:
- AIDS Walk Houston expects to raise $1million this year
- Only 28 states have laws criminalizing the intentional transmission of AIDS--Texas is not one of them.
- 43% of all Texans living with HIV live in Harris County (county seat--Houston)
Tuesday, March 04, 2008
Now What?
In two months, my two-year commitment to TFA will end. I've been all-consumed the last four months in what I will do next. Should I go to law school? Should I stay in the classroom? Should I study abroad? Should I work for a campaign?
These are all things I want to do... eventually. I applied to several law/grad schools in September and I'm still waiting to hear back from some of them. In the interim, I've thought a lot about what I want to do before starting a legal career.
I ultimately came to this--what's the rush? Why rush to law school if I more-or-less know what the career-track will look like after three years in legal study... job at a firm, work my way up the career ladder, etc. At some point, I'd like to enter politics/policy and want to be able to rely on solid work experience prior to law school. While my time with TFA has given me many passionate ideas about change that needs to happen, two years in the classroom is simply not enough of the experience that feel I need. There's still a lot of good work to be done on behalf of my students, their peers, and their families.
So, I'm committing myself to two more years in education. I've applied for several positions--one as a content specialist at my school and the other as a program director with TFA--that will each allow me to make a larger impact than can be made in a single classroom and will keep me on the front lines of education reform. Both of these opportunities would also allow me a different perspective on education reform, which will ultimately better prepare me to serve as an advocate for that much-needed reform.
Depending on what happens, I could remain in Houston or move to Las Vegas, Atlanta or New Orleans. I'll keep you updated...
These are all things I want to do... eventually. I applied to several law/grad schools in September and I'm still waiting to hear back from some of them. In the interim, I've thought a lot about what I want to do before starting a legal career.
I ultimately came to this--what's the rush? Why rush to law school if I more-or-less know what the career-track will look like after three years in legal study... job at a firm, work my way up the career ladder, etc. At some point, I'd like to enter politics/policy and want to be able to rely on solid work experience prior to law school. While my time with TFA has given me many passionate ideas about change that needs to happen, two years in the classroom is simply not enough of the experience that feel I need. There's still a lot of good work to be done on behalf of my students, their peers, and their families.
So, I'm committing myself to two more years in education. I've applied for several positions--one as a content specialist at my school and the other as a program director with TFA--that will each allow me to make a larger impact than can be made in a single classroom and will keep me on the front lines of education reform. Both of these opportunities would also allow me a different perspective on education reform, which will ultimately better prepare me to serve as an advocate for that much-needed reform.
Depending on what happens, I could remain in Houston or move to Las Vegas, Atlanta or New Orleans. I'll keep you updated...
Obama on Education
Though I'm staunchly for Hillary (who, me?), I must admit that this speech Obama gave in Beaumont, Texas last week has to be the best speech I've heard any of the candidates deliver yet on education reform.
As a teacher, he hits on all the high points--test reform, merit pay, pay raise, more time for professional development. But, most importantly, he wasn't afraid to be honest with his audience. The truth is, the only way to ensure we leave no child behind is not only to reform our schools but to reform our parenting.
America, rightfully so, is fearful of telling parents how to do their job. Though I'm not sure it is the place of government to step-in and teach parents how to be good parents, I do think government can spur community and social groups to do so. As a country, we must make parent-training a national priority.
It's so very obvious which of my students have great parents--painfully obvious. It's obvious when I hold parent conferences, which of these parents know what they're doing and are committed to following through versus just "surviving" their children. When I talked to a parent this afternoon about her son, she asked me how I thought she should discipline Carlos for talking in class. There was something in her voice--I could tell she wasn't asking for another perspective but was legitimately asking for advice on how to be a good parent. She's only a few years older than I am. I didn't have the heart to say, "Ma'am, I'm only 24 years old and have never raised children. I'm not the expert on how to be a good parent."
Obama's speech speaks to the realizations I've come to from two years in the classroom. I hope to continue to see (and hear) education reform from all the candidates... after No Child Left Behind, America desperately needs this national conversation!
As a teacher, he hits on all the high points--test reform, merit pay, pay raise, more time for professional development. But, most importantly, he wasn't afraid to be honest with his audience. The truth is, the only way to ensure we leave no child behind is not only to reform our schools but to reform our parenting.
America, rightfully so, is fearful of telling parents how to do their job. Though I'm not sure it is the place of government to step-in and teach parents how to be good parents, I do think government can spur community and social groups to do so. As a country, we must make parent-training a national priority.
It's so very obvious which of my students have great parents--painfully obvious. It's obvious when I hold parent conferences, which of these parents know what they're doing and are committed to following through versus just "surviving" their children. When I talked to a parent this afternoon about her son, she asked me how I thought she should discipline Carlos for talking in class. There was something in her voice--I could tell she wasn't asking for another perspective but was legitimately asking for advice on how to be a good parent. She's only a few years older than I am. I didn't have the heart to say, "Ma'am, I'm only 24 years old and have never raised children. I'm not the expert on how to be a good parent."
Obama's speech speaks to the realizations I've come to from two years in the classroom. I hope to continue to see (and hear) education reform from all the candidates... after No Child Left Behind, America desperately needs this national conversation!
Texas Two Step
Texas is a unique state in many ways, not the least of which is presented in its combined Democratic primary and caucus system. But, for someone who is not from a caucus-state and might never have the opportunity to participate in a caucus again, tonight was pretty interesting.I early voted last week and returned tonight for the caucus. It was an interesting event, completely led by citizens. I must admit, citizens aren't that organized. The teacher in me wanted to take over at several points and restore order, but it didn't last that long (about an hour and a half).
During the caucus, I was elected a precinct delegate, which means I'll be attending our county convention, which will select delegates for the state convention, which selects delegates for the Democratic National Convention.
I'll keep you updated.
Front Line: Houston
Who knew when I moved to Houston that I'd wind up on the front line of the 2008 presidential election? The past few months leading up to tonight's "Texas two-step" combined primary and caucus has been extremely exciting!Arguably, my vote has never really counted in Georgia. At least, it never felt like it did. It always felt like I was going through the motions. All the excitement of the campaigns was evident on TV but was absent in Georgia. Georgia is a red state. Actually, it's a maroon state.
Due to Hillary's dependence on the Hispanic vote (and the close delegate count in the lead-up to now), Texas has become a crucial state to both campaigns. As the fourth-largest city in America and the largest city in Texas, Houston is ground zero for the campaigns. I feel like either Bill Clinton, Hillary Clinton, or Barack Obama have been in Houston every day for the past three weeks.I've included several photos of a life's dream come true--I saw all three Clintons in one week! I met Bill (a true personal hero--minus the moral ineptitude) at a fundraiser. I met Chelsea and saw Hillary speak--from six feet away!--at a last-minute union speech in Houston a few weeks ago. It was exhilarating to say the least.
I'm watching the returns right now and Texas is still too close to call, in large part because they are waiting for returns from Houston. I can't tell you how exciting it is to have this feeling that my vote--MY VOTE--actually counts for something.Go Hillary!
I'm Back!
So, it's been four months. Sorry for the long absence. A very long absence.While teaching in itself creates a natural state of imbalance in one's life, the last four months of trying to figure out what's next has created even more chaos. Needless to say, many weeks have gone by with no time for blogging. Blogging helps keep me balanced, so I'm making a resolution--a March resolution--to blog more. Hence, I should have more balance in my life--right?
Anyway, I have so much to blog about. Much has happened in the last four months. In the coming days, I'll try to get it all written down.
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