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! 

Change, Change, Change!

A great Good-bye Party!

Eleven days after we returned home from our summer 2015 vacation, I was informed that I was changing jobs.  Not exactly changing jobs, per say, but changing positions.  I would be performing the same or similar functions of my position at another location.  Why?  Federal Legislation.

So, I packed up my stuff—17 boxes, 3 lamps, 2 bookshelves, and a tree—and steadied myself for another chapter in my career.  This wasn’t the first time I had moved, it’s just that the last time was eight years ago. 

After shedding a few tears, many drops of sweat (packing), and saying good-bye, I was ready to take on this new adventure just a few miles down the road.  There are mostly pros to this change.  Here are some of them:

• My commute to work is 9 blocks and includes one stop sign.  If I get more ambitious I could walk or bike to work.
• I get to work with great people—some of whom I’ve worked with before and many who are new.
• The people I worked with previously are a phone call, text message, email, or short jaunt away.
• I have widened my circle of relationships and can change some from colleague to friend.
• I get to learn new things.

In a few days, I get to add about 300 more relationships to manage in my new position.  The learning curve has been steep the last few days and I imagine that I’m not yet at the peak of the curve. 

I’m grateful that I am up to the task both physically and mentally.  I’m grateful that there are many people who are willing to help and support as I make the adjustment.  I’m grateful for my family’s patience and understanding during this transition.  The husband brought me sustenance when I was packing and unpacking and understood the long hours.  And, I'm grateful for my incredible work experiences leading up to this change.

So, if you’re wondering “where I’ve been” that’s where.  Using my time, energy, and concentration to make a change.