Teachers don't really have the summer off. I imagine the general public assumes they do but I have found too much evidence to the contrary. Our school ended the 2014-2015 school year in June. For one or two days after that last day, our halls were quiet. Scary quiet. Funny how a building's pulse can change when key inhabitants like students and teachers are not there.
It is now July and I have already heard from many of my teachers, either in person or online, about professional development and summer work they are seeking and completing on their own. This includes:
These are just a few examples from this week. All of this work is unpaid. Districts like ours stopped being able to afford summer work for many a few years back. The funds just aren't there. However, that hasn't stopped our teachers from still focusing on the work that matters. The work that will help improve their craft.
See, jobs like ours aren't really jobs. The work rarely stops at the end of the school day. Our kind of work involves constant reflection and seeking improvement. It's the nature of what we do. Working in a school requires it be accepted as a passion, a calling, or a career.
As a principal, I am grateful to each and every teacher pursuing PD on their own this summer. Whatever that may look like, your work will benefit our students.
And in the end, that's our most important work year round.
It is now July and I have already heard from many of my teachers, either in person or online, about professional development and summer work they are seeking and completing on their own. This includes:
- Revamping curriculum maps and assessments
- Attending STEM workshops offered by NYSUT
- Attending data workshops offered by BOCES to examine state test instructional reports
- Reading a book about behavior as part of our PBIS program
- Relocating an entire classroom space to another space
- Examining ELA resources for intervention use
- Updating school webpages
These are just a few examples from this week. All of this work is unpaid. Districts like ours stopped being able to afford summer work for many a few years back. The funds just aren't there. However, that hasn't stopped our teachers from still focusing on the work that matters. The work that will help improve their craft.
See, jobs like ours aren't really jobs. The work rarely stops at the end of the school day. Our kind of work involves constant reflection and seeking improvement. It's the nature of what we do. Working in a school requires it be accepted as a passion, a calling, or a career.
As a principal, I am grateful to each and every teacher pursuing PD on their own this summer. Whatever that may look like, your work will benefit our students.
And in the end, that's our most important work year round.
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