Things I've Learned at the AP US History Reading

For those of you who are "unfamiliar" with the world of AP, I am currently in Louisville at the AP US History Reading which means that I have joined 1400 of my closest friends to read about 1.4 million U.S. history exams. It was a spur of the moment decision since they only called me on Wednesday of last week. I have always wanted to attend so that I could learn more about how to help my students do well on the exam and now I am here. So I have learned (so far) 1. That I really, really, really miss my family 2. That I will never again complain about grading my students' essays. Today, alone, I've graded 200 exams. ARGH. 3. That I cannot sleep in a bed (I need my recliner) 4. That no matter how bad my students write, they write 10x better than any essay I've read so far. 5. That this experience is something I should probably only do once. 6. That AP US History teachers are a terrific group of people, passionate about their subject and their students. 7. That Louisville is an awesome city with lots to see and do and that I don't really want to see any of it or do any of it. 8. That my family can survive just fine without me (for a while). 9. That having a roommate is not as much fun as it was in college (although she's really nice) 10. That I need to walk more. 11. That feeding 2000 teachers requires food that is not necessarily delicious (although it's filling). 12. That AP teachers really, really enjoy the cocktail reception. 13. That AP US History is being "resigned" and that we better teach our students to WRITE, WRITE, WRITE. 14. That I love my hometown of KC. 15. That reading student papers for 8 hours a day is NO FUN. 16. That I likely have ADD as I cannot sit still.

Memorial Day, My Mom, Facebook, Daughters, and other thoughts

I have always loved Memorial Day, maybe a little less now than I did as a girl. As a young girl, I accompanied my grandmother and dad as they took flowers to the cemetery for what grandma called, "Decoration Day." Sometmies, we had as many as thirty containers of flowers, mostly fresh picked and kept in the refrigerator. Grandma had these white cardboard containers that she would fill with irises and peonies, keeping them in the refrigerator if they bloomed early. I have tried to keep up the tradition in greatly reduced fashion. I went to Tuscumbia on Saturday and in the pouring rain put flowers at Grandma and Grandpa Wright's graves, my mom and dad, my dad's baby sister who died in 1919, the same year that he was born, Uncle Bob Marshall and Homer Clay. I met Connie at the cemetery and we had a great lunch at Eldon, enjoying catching up on our lives. She's been my best friend for as long as I can remember and when I see her it's as though we haven't been separated for weeks or months or years but days. As for the rest of the weekend, it was all right. The girls have been fighting and that always upsets me. However, as I knew they would, they made up over pizza and beer. Every time they fight, I despair thinking that somehow I did something wrong, treating one differently than the other; and, every time they make up, I relax, thinkig that maybe I did everything all right after all. I have thought a lot about my mom this weekend, too. She died six years ago yesterday, May 25th. In some ways, it seems like it was just yesterday...and in others, it feels as though it happened eons ago. I think of her often. Mostly, I wish that I had been closer as she grew older. We talked almost every day but in some ways she remains an engima. She was a private person, exceptionally so as I reflect back now, and I realize now that there was a LOT I didn't understand about her. I think I'm a little more transparent, more like my Aunt Betty, perhaps. As I grow older, my fondest hope is that my girls fall in love and live in Kansas City so I can be there for them everyday...going to the kids' soccer games, celebrating every birthday and school play.

I love this quote from NCIS.

I love this quote from NCIS. It's one of my favorite episodes, featuring McGee, Gibbs, Vance, and the North Korean agent Khi. "Anyone can achieve their fullest potential. Who we are might be predetermined, but the path we follow is always of our own choosing. We should never allow our fears or the expectations of other to set the frontiers of our destiny. Your destiny can't be changed, but it can be challenged. Everyman is born as many men, and dies as a single one."

Finding a Job

It's an open secret that I have been seeking a new job. I don't WANT a new job. I love my current job. In fact, I think of it not so much as a job as a way of being. I love teaching. I love working with kids. I love the people with whom I work. I love my Celtic family. I love everything about it. And, yet, I am looking for a new job. About three years ago when we heard that the dream of a new Catholic high school in eastern Jackson county might, indeed, become a reality, I decided with my good friend, Lori, to go back to school and earn a second master's in education administration, something that would presumably qualify me for carrying on in my role as assistant principal at O'Hara when it became St. Michaels. I loved going back to school, although now as I think about it, I can't really see why. My dad was sick, I was driving to Jefferson City every weekend, I worked part time at Legacy and I still had a full time job. But, Lori and I persevered and by the fall of 2012, we both had earned our masters. I applied for the job of principal at O'Hara when Dr. Redd left and was frankly quite relieved when the search committee gave the job to John O'Connor. Last year, for about two weeks, I applied for a principal oeping in our diocese at St. John LeLande. I had second thoughts after hearing that another long time elementary principal was interested in the job, someone who I did not know very well, but someone who had my respect. So, I withdrew that application and carried on at O'Hara doing what I love to do. And, now it is a year later, and the uncertainty of what is happening at O'Hara and what will happen at the new St. Michael's has many of us scrambling and reviewing our resumes. O'Hara is closing at the end of next year, in May of 2015, and the new school is opening. The school is the dream of Bishop Finn and John has been named the new principal. He's made it clear that he would love for me to work with him at St. Michaels and I would love that too. A new building, a sense of adventure, a new vision and mission, yet deeply rooted in Catholic values and tradition. But, I do have a principal's certification now, having paid $500 for the test and I think that I would like to try being a principal on my own. It's scary. And, a part of me would much rather remain right where I am, but right where I am is not going to be the same after the move to the new school. There will be immense challenges, attracting new students, developing a curriculum. And my biggest worry is that after all of that work, and the building of a new school, that the students won't come. There are few feeder schools in eastern Jackson county and the Lees Summit schools are among the best in the state. St. Michael's tuition will be at least what OHS tuition is now, some 7500. And, lots of folks can't afford that, especially when they are happy with their public schools and their parish school of religion programs. And, so I worry. I trust that there's plan for me and so I wait, praying for insight and courage.

Reflection on Teaching

Perhaps it’s because our school is closing, or perhaps it’s just my age, but I have become increasingly reflective about teaching as an art and vocation. Tonight I listened as Lisa Fox delivered the NHS induction address. She had been invited by the students because of her passion and amazing enthusiasm and I was proud to have been her teacher and to be her colleague. I remember Lisa as my student. She was bright, quiet, and passionate about learning even then. Somehow I didn’t remember her contagious enthusiasm for life that manifests itself in every hello and hug. She has a talent for making every student feel valued and cared for and I remember that her passion for kids is why I, too, became a teacher. Teachers are never happier than when one of their students who suffered through American Government or AP US History becomes a teacher; it’s how we live on, it’s our legacy as teachers. And, as I listened to Lisa’s talk I thought that she is speaking to students who will one day becomes teachers and she will have played a role in their decision and then, they, too, will teach students who will teach others. It’s a form of immortality and in so many ways it is quite humbling. Thank you to all of my friends who teach. Know that you are doing God’s work and nothing is more important. Thanks, Lisa, for reminding me of how important we teachers can be, and for helping me remember why I became a teacher in the first place

I am a mess!

It's Holy Week. And, I am a mess! What a difficult month...and it's just half over. First, I cannot explain how much the killings at the Jewish Community Center and Village Shalom have impacted me. Who would think that 115th and Nall was a dangerous place to be on a Sunday afternoon? I have been at the community Center a number of times. Everything that I know of the people and place tells me that it was a haven for families and students, supported by Jews and Gentiles alike. What sense can we make of such random violence? Truly, perhaps, our world has gone mad. And at Village Shalom....a woman visiting her mother as she did every Sunday...a Catholic, an occupational therapist. It strikes too close to home. She was my age. She visited her mother every Sunday. I did that for my dad. Who will explain the tragedy to her mother? Who will hold her hand and comfort her? Who will visit her every Sunday? She left three adult children and they will carry on...as I hope mine would do. It's too hard. Where does this violence come from? How does one hate someone simply on the basis of a religion? Or a language? Can we teach our children to be better than we have been? I am reminded of Dr. King's quote, "Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that." As the Newtown Parents have often said, "love wins." Always. Every time. That is a difficult thing to hold on to in these dark days. And, our school. Our lovely, precious community of learners. We are closing. As that fact has sunk in, we have all become sad, and perhaps a bit bitter. And yet, our students persevere. They put on a fabulous show in Spamalot. I had my doubts at first. Monty Python? Really? But, who could not laugh? The students gave their all...they worked countless hours to master lyrics and dances that they had never heard of or performed. Every single student made me proud to be associated with Archbishop O'Hara High School. Who possibly thinks that closing our school is a good idea? Where in Kansas City could one find such a warm, loving, supportive community? Kids on stage with special needs...Kids who are top in their class academically. Athletes. Non athletes. Geeks. Robotics kids. Nerds. Popular kids. Not so popular kids. Transfer students. Students who started at OHS four years ago. Freshmen. Seniors. Somehow, each has found a home at O'Hara. It was incredible. And, someone, somewhere thinks it's a good idea to close us? A school that literally screams community to all who will listen. A school that stands vibrantly strong in the face of the kinds of hatred that drove the killings at the Jewish Community Center. Do we have our problems? Of course! What community of 300 does not? There are kids who do what they shouldn't...and adults too. But, we make it work. Our students are confident, successful, happy, loving, committed to peace and justice. We love each other. And, yet we are closing. There are teachers who have lost their jobs. And, students who love those teachers. What do we say to them? How do we heal? It's been a tough month. And, we are not quite through. But, it's Holy Week. The Passion of our Lord is before us. Somehow we hold to hope. We hold to the promise that tomorrow will be better. And, we commit our heart and strength to making it so.

A Wonderful Post

http://pursuitofajoyfullife.wordpress.com/2014/01/26/what-students-remember-most-about-teachers/