The View From Here

Much like my friend here, I feel as though I’m poking my head out of the den after a long period of hibernation. I had intended to write more and make more additions to the website over the past year, but then I discovered that I actually enjoyed being retired. Most people who know me were betting that I would get bored, and quickly commit to some new job or project. Instead, I rediscovered music, exercise, dog walks, and FAMILY.

I did (and still do) miss being around students. I don’t miss meetings wasted on mission statements, vision statements and that other nonsense. I reiterate what I said at retirement – It was time to go. Now, I am so glad that I retired when I did. Had I waited another year, there would have been no “good-byes”, no closure. My heart breaks for those teachers who invested their lives in a career in education, and because of the pandemic had no chance to bow out gracefully. Instead, they must feel like visitors who quietly let themselves out the door after a long visit.

When schools closed in the Spring, I knew that the transition to distance learning would be challenging for many teachers. Though I possess a skill set that would have made the transition relatively easy, it would have been painful to be displaced from the classroom and the relationships that make schools dynamic places for students and teachers. I have some ideas about how teachers can be better prepared for this new school year, and I would be happy to share them. But I’m not really expecting anyone to ask, and that is OK. I’ll just head out to the porch with a guitar or banjo and learn a new song.