I wonder why some people become teachers.  When I visit classrooms and even when I enter other schools, it is crystal clear to those of us in administration that some teachers should not be where they are.  Some teachers complain when asked to do things that are part of their job description and throw a tantrum, rolling eyes and making faces, if work is required to be done over the weekend.  The interesting observation that I have made on a number of occasions is that the teachers who respond in the ways I have described are the first to send a student to the office for doing the exact same thing to them.  Somehow it is ok for them to behave that way because they are adults?  I think not.

Expectations are set high for a reason.  But asking for simple documentation each week is sometimes a fight.  This is not new, all principals deal with this.  Even in my New York schools we had teachers who had difficulty turning in things like lesson plans and student data reports, and there were consequnces for that.  There are soon to be consequences now.  It is just part of the job, nothing personal.

But it brings me back to my original question – why enter the profession that is not, nor has ever been, a Monday through Friday job.  We work at night, early in the morning, on the weekends, over the holiday breaks – its about being good in the craft of teaching.  Teaching is more than being effective in the classroom, it is also about maintaining appropriate documentation, keeping deadlines like lesson plan submissions and report card completion.  It’s about the reflective nature of thinking back over the day’s events and learning how to be even better the next day.  This is not the place (my school and the field of education) for someone who cringes or makes a face when I ask for a basic level of accountability.

Next year at my school will be exciting.  We are expanding into another building and I am going to set up my desired “early learning center” where we will perfect our craft of early childhood education.  I am excited about the staff I am going to bring in to do this, totally transforming what shell of a program we currently have.  The new hires are sharp and positive – and have a desire to give 110%.  In seeing the staff needs projected for next year and having already done some interviews to fill some of those positions, I can’t help but look to next school year with great enthusiasm and anticipation.  We will take a huge leap from good to great at the start of the new year and I’ll be able to put behind me the face-makers and the attitude-having individuals who have wrongfully chosen a profession that requires passion and intentionality.

Some days as a principal I feel like a middle school teacher all over again with the nonsense and attitude that is exhibited.  I feel like wearing a t-shirt around school, one side reading “grow up and get over it” while the other side reads “stop acting like you’re the only one who has lots of work to do!”  But that would be wrong, right?  Right.

Instead, I am a cheerleader, most of the time.  Rallying the troops to maintain focus on the students and keep in mind at all times that all things are done for the students.  That is our mission, that is our goal and we will accomplish it!