Changes...

  These last 4 months have been crazy, and the last thing that I could think about was posting to my blog. This entire year has been a tough one. My wife and I welcomed our first child into the world this year, right as morale at our school hit an all time low. Education weathered the storm of a lower budget and more kids in our classrooms. In February, I reached a place where I needed to make a decision. I had been asked about a job in the private sector that paid a lot more. My discontent with some of the actions taken by the district and the tough schedule of being a teacher weighed heavy on me. This same problem is a plague on the education institution and claims a lot of teachers. I wrestled with the allure of more money, but also less time off. I finally came to the decision that I needed to change my outlook before I gave up on education. 

  I applied with a new idea in education, one that I wrote about last year, a concept called early college. The basic purpose is to take kids that have the potential to graduate college an avenue to achieve at least an associates degree. Students choose a degree plan and then follow that degree plan in college to get to their goal. They can then take the credits earned and apply them to a four year program, or finish out their associates. I found out after spring break that I had been offered the position and took it. This week will mark the end of my time at my current school. This school year has highlighted the problems with education and the system that we operate in. STAAR testing is now a hot button topic with administrators and teachers. State legislatures are missing the point completely. Not everyone is meant for college. The world needs pipe fitters, bakers, and plumbers. Each of those can earn a really good living without a college degree in hand. We have to prepare the kids for a future where they enter high school and choose a path that speaks to their talents and helps to develop their minds. Early college is one of the avenues that can do that, but their are programs in the high schools right now that could prepare kids for a career in something that they would like. 

  I have accepted my new position, and look forward to working with a new group of people. I encourage everyone that reads this to support your local district. Also, for those interested I have included a link to Save Texas Schools. This is a group that I am in full support of. I will be taking a hiatus until next school year. My plan moving forward is to try and blog this new experience as I move into uncharted waters.

“Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever.” 
― Mahatma Gandhi