On the 8th Day of the School Year, My Principal Gave to Me...

We've had 8 days of school in the 2010-2011 school year, and I have not had the slightest of ideas for a blog post in at least 8 days.

The thing I've been thinking about most... buh, buh, bummmmmm.... sleep.

That's right ladies and gentleman, sleep.

I miss it.

But thankfully, my boss provided me with some material today... Sing along to the tune of the 12 Days of Christmas, if you must.



On the first day of this school year, my principal gave to me... 


A very very very late bus.


On the second day of this school year, my principal gave to me...


Two students crying because of...

a very very very late bus.

On the third day of this school year, my principal gave to me...


Three new Kindergarteners, 


Two students crying, because of... 


a very, very, very late bus.

On the fourth day of this school year, my principal gave to me...


Four minutes for lunch, 


Three new Kindergarteners, 


Two students crying, because of... 


A very, very, very late bus.

On the fifth day of this school year, my principal gave to me...


Fiiiiiiiiive Huuuuuundred E-mails.


Four minutes for lunch, 


Three new Kindergarteners, 


Two students crying, because of... 


A very, very, very late bus.

On the sixth day of this school year, my principal gave to me, 


Six parent complaints, 


Fiiiiiiiiive Huuuuuundred E-mails.


Four minutes for lunch, 


Three new Kindergarteners, 


Two students crying, because of...


A very, very, very late bus.

On the seventh day of this school year, my principal gave to me


Seven scheduled meetings, 


Six parent complaints, 


Fiiiiiiiiive Huuuunnnndred E-mails.


Four minutes for lunch, 


Three new Kindergarteners, 


Two students crying, because of...


A very, very, very late bus.

On the 8th day of this school year, my principal gave to me...

Now, this is where the song has to stop, because, in all seriousness, and all joking aside, tonight, I appreciate my principal.

Not that I don't always appreciate my principal...

But, on the 8th day of the school year, a Friday, at 6pm, I drove back to school to talk to my principal about something regarding a student that was sorta none of my business, just because I cared about the student.

And my principal?  He listened.  He sat.  And he listened.  And he maybe didn't agree with every word I said.  And he maybe even thought I was overstepping my boundaries a little.  But he knew I was coming from a good place. And he listened.

And I know he had someplace he needed to be.

But, in the best interest of a student, he listened.

And he told me, "You have a great mind for special ed."

I should've told him that the fact he said that made my week.  I don't need the awards or the announcements or the articles.  I need the students and the simple statements like that.  Those things keep me going.

On the 8th day of this school year, my principal gave to me... 


Time to share my opinion, dialogue to refine my opinion, thoughts on how to solve a problem, a sense of collaboration, and a feeling of value.

It's been a good 8 days.  I think I'll stick around.

(And the bus is coming on time now.)