There’s some internal, deep seeded clock that works in
teachers. It’s like a biological educator clock. Before the calendar changes to
August, my body starts waking in the night, jotting down odd ideas, random
thoughts, and urgent epiphanies that I cannot fathom how I just thought of them.
Then, just like I was 7, I pick out my first day of school clothes, go to bed
early, and lay awake for hours anticipating the new year.
It’s weird to have that first day of school excitement in
November. I haven’t even chosen my first day outfit, and I already have
butterflies in my tummy. Tomorrow, I “trade spaces” with my friend and
colleague Cynthia Jaird at Central Elementary in Lewisville. Our schools are
not terribly far apart; however, they are very different in many ways.
I have never worked on a Title One campus. The extent of
diversity on my campus, sadly, is how new your Justice outfit is. My campus,
McAuliffe Elementary, has 471 students. Central has almost 1,000 students.
Their campus is very new; our campus is 27 years old. Most of my students walk.
We have 2 buses. I have no idea how many buses they have. The Central staff is
double the size of mine.
For the past two years, 5th grade students from
Central and McAuliffe have participated in a student exchange program. Just
like students travel around the world to study abroad, we travel across town –
for a week. Hey, it’s elementary school.
This year, we decided that it would be a good experience for
us to exchange first and model some of the ways to use the blog and the website
created to follow our adventures. It sounded great initially, and we committed
to 3 days. (Our students exchange for 4 to 5 days.) I think we both panicked and decided 2 would
be better. So, I start at Central Elementary tomorrow as the principal.
Cynthia gave me the heads up that they might all talk
Spanish to me just to freak me out. Little do they know that my 13 year old has
been teaching me Spanish phrases; hey, at least I can find food and the
bathroom!
I am really excited about seeing different classrooms. I
have wonderful teachers, but it will be fun to see a new set of faces! I’ve
heard great things about the staff, and I know the kids will be precious. Our
schools may be different in a lot of ways, but kids are kids – and I love the
kids.
I am super excited about tomorrow. I think I have narrowed
my outfit down to something with boots: I want to be able to walk around the
whole building all day! Plus, suits are stuffy, and heels make my feet hurt.
I am going to learn so much! I just hope I don’t mess
anything up too terribly! I hope they like me. What if no one talks to me and I
feel completely ridiculous all day?! It’s only two days; I’ll be fine. I know
they’re nice. What if I lose a child? I don’t even know their names! I need to
get a map. Pockets. I can put the map in my pocket just in case I get lost, or
better, I could take a picture of it with my phone! I wonder what they’ll have
for lunch. Maybe I should take mine. What if I can’t find the restroom? Wow,
this could be a very long night.
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