The Gift of Time

On November 1, I my post was entitled "How Are We Doing So Far?" and it was an attempt to collect some feedback about how things are going in Montpelier Public Schools.  I was grateful to receive a number of responses from this post about what we are doing.  In that post, I promised that I would share the feedback I received.

There were a variety of responses to the first question about one thing that has gone well.  From PLP conferences, to a smooth transition for Mike McRaith into MHS, from the addition of a special educator for each grade at UES to the pride of the teams people are serving on, the diversity of answers made me very proud.  There was no theme that emerged from the feedback on this question.

For the one thing that needs improvement, there was a clear theme: more time!  For the one thing that people hoped to see before the end of the year, the same theme emerged: more time!  More on the theme of time in the latter part of this blog post.

The final question also received a variety of responses.  From feedback too specific to share to finalizing the teachers' contract in MPS, from more leadership to the desire to see PD like Breathe, this question also elicited a variety of responses from which no theme emerged.

So it is clear that folks in MPS need the gift of time.  It is true, the expectations are high for educators in the State of Vermont, and specifically for us in Montpelier Public Schools.  There are several initiatives that we are working on and it demands a great deal of professional attention from everyone.  Plus, students continue to show up on a daily basis and they require love and instruction based on their needs.

One of the items that I added this fall was voluntary participation in the Integrated Field Review with the Agency of Education.  I chose to volunteer us for this experience to receive feedback about the work we do in MPS and ways that we can improve.  I know it was a tremendous amount of work, in addition to what we are already required to do.  I am grateful for how well it went and I look forward to receiving the final report from the Agency of Education.

Given the feedback that I received from this blog post, as well as during conversations I have had during Office Hours, I want to reassure MPS that I will not be volunteering us for any additional initiatives.  We have much to do and I want us to do it well.

I want to continue to think with everyone in MPS about how we can be creative about our time with our students and with our colleagues.  Time is such a gift, it is fleeting and firm, never fully within our grasp.  We have only so much time to be present to our families and friends, and only so much time to serve our students and colleagues.  That balance is critical to doing right in both our personal and professional lives.

As it is the week of Thanksgiving, I am giving myself the gift of time.  I will not be writing a blog post.  I am giving myself the gift of time and will share more of it with my family this week.  Be good to yourselves this week - give yourselves the gift of time and share more of it with people who want or need a little more of you.

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving break!