Planning For Next Year

This time last year, I worked, somewhat nervously, each day thinking that I would know soon whether or not I’d be employed this year.

Days passed, and soon May had arrived. I thought surely, if they were not going to bring me back, I would have heard something. The counselors were having me create electives for the next year, another teacher was talking to me about possibly advising the next year’s newspaper, and the high school yearbook adviser and I were planning some of the next year’s book.

Then the last day of school arrived — and my principal told me that they were not bring me back.

Fast forward to last week.

At my current school, my principal informed me last week that they ARE bringing me back. So all I need to worry about this summer are the professional development opportunities and mission trips. Woot!

In addition, I have been told that not only will I be the newspaper adviser next year (A dream come true!), but also the yearbook adviser. Wow!

And you know that professional development opportunity I mentioned? My department head asked if I wanted to go to the Pre-AP English workshop, but said he wasn’t sure there would be enough money for everyone who wanted to participate. In a school leadership meeting last week, the assistant superintendent of the district informed me that I am going. Yahoo!

The validation I am receiving here this year is such a far cry from last, my head is still spinning!

Related topics: Reflective Teacher

About the author 

Michelle Boyd Waters, M.Ed.

Michelle taught secondary ELA in public schools for 10 years. She served as an award-winning journalist before transitioning into education and is now Assistant Director of the OU Writing Center and a teacher consultant for the Oklahoma Writing Project. Michelle co-edited the Oklahoma English Journal for five years. She is a PhD candidate in Instructional Leadership and Academic Curriculum at the University of Oklahoma. She started reThink ELA LLC as a teacher blog in 2012.

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