Of course, like anything, I have had my share of frustration and resistance along the way - but such is life. More often than not, I have had the opportunity to work with some outstanding teachers that have shown me the meaning of dedication. I have been humbled by the selflessness I have seen from many teachers across our district to give their students the best opportunities to succeed. I have gone from a young and idealistic teacher to an informed and realistic father of three (life has definitely changed). I have seen the bigger picture of how our school system works, and I realize that being cynical and negative achieves absolutely nothing except more negativity and cynicism. Asking questions with the intention of working to find the best possible answers is how we make progress...together.
I have been able to understand that life is not about being perfect all the time. It is about acknowledging the fact that I am going to make some mistakes - and I am going to learn from them. It is very easy, especially in a position like mine, to preach about things in a theoretical way. The only problem is that our classrooms do not live "in theory". They are living, breathing things that require adjustments and exceptions and constant maintenance.
One thing that I have definitely grasped a new understanding of is that it is not about the destination - it is about the journey (in and out of the classroom). My personal journey is continuing on somewhere new, and I appreciate everything that I've learned from everyone in Joliet. Thanks for helping me find my way, and I hope to see you again. In the meantime - we should connect on Twitter @sjoycetech. (I had to end it with technology).
As I usually do, I will be taking a break from blogging over the summer, but I fully intend on picking things back up in the fall. Have a great summer!
