Williams Family: I'm Officially Retired

 

It's a wrap!

After 33 years as a public school educator, the keys are turned in and I am retired.

What a ride!  3 school districts:  Ballard Huxley, Ankeny, and Ottumwa--all in Iowa.  8 schools:  Slater Elementary in Slater, Iowa; Southeast and Northeast Elementaries in Ankeny, Iowa; and Wildwood, Lincoln, James, Wilson, and Horace Mann Elementaries in Ottumwa, Iowa.  A classroom teacher for 9 years: 3 years teaching kindergarten students, 4 years teaching third grade students, and 2 years teaching fourth grade students.  An elementary principal both K-6 and K-5 for 24 years.  Thousands of students and parents, hundreds of staff. 

I've seen programs and initiatives come, go, and come again.  I've been subpoenaed, threatened, hit, bit, kicked, tripped, and hugged.  Oh, so many hugs! 

I've hired and fired. Transported students and staff to the emergency room. Managed water main breaks, gas leaks, and power outages. 

I've weathered extreme heat and cold to make sure students departed safely. And, ridden in the back seat of the police SUV in the middle of the night to look for a lost child. 

I've pulled teeth, stopped nose bleeds, stabilized potential broken bones with magazines, book bags, garbage bags, and duct tape, and transported students home to get personal care products when parents couldn't be reached.  I've held and hugged distraught students, staff, and parents. 

I've experienced an Amber Alert for a student who didn't make it to school, needed a Notice of Injunction for a supervisor, and have been called names by parents both in person and on social media.

I've responded to late night and week-end vandalism, playground fires, alarms, and break-ins.  My favorite story was the night the police had me lead them into a school with a sounding alarm armed with flashlights.  I flipped switches and turned on all the lights, reducing the suspense significantly. 

I've listened and heard about affairs, marriages, divorces, babies, lost babies, deaths, illnesses, and medical procedures.  Helping when I could and if needed.  The principal's office is sometimes a confessional.   

There was a year of running two schools.  There was a year of being the adjunct principal at preschool while managing another elementary.  There were years of coordinating guidance counselors, talented and gifted program, and mentor teacher program. 

As a teacher, I attended two National Conferences--in New Orleans and Phoenix. As a principal, I attended one National Conference--in St. Louis--as a presenter with a great team of teachers. 

A B.A. and two advanced degrees and I worked two, sometimes three jobs for many years.  There were the Wal-Mart years and the years of teaching graduate classes to teachers. 

Will I miss it?  

I'll miss the connections with students, families, and colleagues, the people.  Well, most of the people.  I'll miss the routine and purpose. I'll miss the challenge of solving new problems, the feel of a smooth-running school, the anticipation of what needs to happen next, and serving people well.

The list of what I won't miss is long. 

A third of a century in service. Over half my life so far. Grateful for the opportunity. 

It's time for new adventures! 

Williams Family: Transitions

 

I'm transitioning today from full time working gal to retired individual, not just summer vacation.  The plan to make this transition has been in the works for a while, several months.   Therefore, I have had a lot of time to process.  There have been some surprises along the way.

I was surprised by how comforting it felt to be replaced.  As soon as there was an announcement of who would be taking the position as our school principal, I felt pleased and relieved.  

I was surprised by parent reactions.  There were congratulations, cards, and one extremely touching email.  There were also social media posts calling me "useless" or was it "worthless" and the parent who said to me, "I'm so glad you aren't going to be here next year."  I kept the touching email and forwarded it to my personal email. 

I was surprised by our students and staff on the last day of school.  Yep, they got me. I was speechless and emotional as the signs appeared when it was time for the Pledge of Allegiance and circle of love and well wishes on the playground.  Do you hear that?  You got me!

I was surprised by how quiet I was in meetings and in general as the school year progressed.  I remember standing in a school office several years ago proclaiming about not being able to wait until the year I retired as I was going to tell it like it was.  One staff person inquired a bit puzzled, "How much are you holding back now?"  My response, "A lot!" which surprised them.  As the school year progressed, I grew quiet, and I was told by a superior, who has moved on from the district, that my questions at meetings were seen as "gotcha questions."  Interestingly, when I told that to a teacher colleague they said, "When you ask a question, I say to myself 'finally' because you are asking what the rest of us are thinking." 

I was surprised by how hard it has been to say good-bye to so many quality educators.  I know those folks will carry the torch!