Things I Like About My Job

It has been a great first week so far!  As I walk to and from school every day, I have time to really think about what I appreciate.  Here’s a partial list in no particular order:

  • Walking to work every day (it’s about a mile, so not too far, but it lets me get my head on straight)
  • Seven days of paid orientation, department meetings, and planning time before the first day of classes
  • A week-long professional development conference for all new faculty about classroom management and how to run a fabulous advisory program
  • Block schedule (fewer, longer classes)
  • Recess and snack every day for all middle-schoolers!
  • First day middle-school assembly was filled with laughter
  • Canoeing down the Mississippi with the eighth grade on the third day of school!
  • Conferences with advisees and their families on the fourth day of school
  • I have only received two things in my physical mailbox since I started… everything else is handled via e-mail and various on-line tools.
  • Delicious, healthy food at the cafeteria every day (for students and faculty)
  • First faculty meeting had only one item on the agenda: discussing specific, individualized strategies for helping students who struggled last year get off to a good start
  • Twice-monthly meetings with my principal already scheduled from now until May
  • Did I mention recess and snack??!?!