Scrambling for Voice, Choice, and Agency
3rd episode
From: Kerry
Re: Follow up
To: planning team sent – Gmail 8:30 PM
Hi Planning Team—
Thanks to everyone who had time to devote to a second meeting in my classroom.
We decided to focus on only a few of the of things we worked on last year. This is disappointing, but in light of a new principal who needs to be brought up to speed, those who were at the meeting think this is the best way forward. I will wait to hear from all of you before I submit our agenda to Wanda.
Until we figure out where Wanda stands, we will not do any more work.
Everyone at the meeting agreed that teacher evaluations and professional development should remain closely linked. We will use the system of self-evaluation and goal setting that we developed last year as the foundation for evaluation and professional development.
Now that you see this in writing, please let me know what you think.
Kerry
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From: Kerry
Re: Looking forward to the kids showing up
To: Chance – Gmail 8:45 PM
Hi Chance—
Yes, unfortunately the district won’t buy what we need and then imposes things on us that we don’t need or want. Have you considered appealing Stan’s decision to your building principal?
I just spent $279 of my own money on Lies My Teacher Told Me, Everything Your American History Textbook Got Wrong, by James W. Loewen. I only got twenty copies because it was all I could add to my credit card right now. There is some money in the budget to reimburse me. I will submit a reimbursement form to Wanda. I am also hoping that some parents will step up and buy more copies for the classroom. If would be fantastic if every student could have a copy, but I doubt that is going to happen.
In my overarching lesson plans for the year, the kids will read passages from Loewen’s book and then compare what he wrote in the book to what is in the textbook. The kids will form discussion panels and debate different versions of the history that they are learning. It will be a great opportunity for kids to debate ‘facts.’ I am really looking forward to the year.
I am very disappointed that we aren’t going to proceed with all of the plans we developed last year, but with a new principal on board, this seems like the best strategy for success. We have worked too hard and too long on this to let Wanda derail our plans to change decision-making and leadership at the school.
Kerry
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From: Chance
Re: Looking forward to the kids showing up
To: Kerry sent - Gmail at 10:00 PM
Hi Kerry—
Good news on the furniture front. The principal is going to give me some long tables that are in a storage closet and are in very good condition. She thinks that the chairs that Stan wants to order are fine, and I agree with her.
She is going to let me take some folding chairs out of the storage rack in the auditorium. Apparently there are lots of extras even when the auditorium is set up for capacity seating.
She has also agreed to talk to Stan. She will go to bat for me and make sure that I have the furniture I need to create a classroom environment that matches my goals for teaching and learning.
That leaves me to figure out where to come up with some new card tables. I think I could survive with five. I will see if any parents will buy them for me….maybe the PTA has some funds…I am bound and determined to recreate the classroom I had last year.
I hope this is the last time I have to interact with Stan. I get the feeling that he does not approve of my teaching style.
More good news: A group of people I know from college are renting a house for Labor Day. It will be so much fun to get together and reminisce about our good-old-times in college before we started our professional careers.
More later—
Chance
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From: Kerry
Re: Looking forward to the kids showing up
To: Chance – Gmail 10:30 PM
I have an almost-new card table I am happy to donate to you.
Beware of spending a long weekend with all your friends who got MBAs and are earning big salaries while you went to the school of education to learn how to scrounge for card tables….HA!
Kerry
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