Lesson #1131

     The first half of the school year - in the books.  For me, the year meant change, and it has certainly lived up to everything people associate with this term.  For starters, the year would mark my entry into eleven years of public school administration.  Eight of the previous ten had been served as an elementary school principal, and the two before those as a middle school dean/assistant principal.  I made a switch this year, and am back at the secondary level, serving as principal for 1,000 middle schoolers.
     I wake up every morning, loving what I do with utter devotion and passion.  I knew the change would be difficult, and I would miss my little ones dearly; it is always hard when you face the reality of not being there every day, week after week, year after year, and I am pretty sure that leaving was harder for me than it was for them... However, just being around kids every day, no matter what the age, no matter how big they are or how much they try and push you away, is a blessing for me.  I am thankful that I get to work at a place I love, to be with people I look forward to seeing, to think thoughts that never end, to labor so intensely it leaves you emotionally and spiritually drained at the end of every day.
   
   I don't know if I would ever change that.

     To all of those who work in public education, whose first waking thoughts every day are on the children, who go to bed every night thinking about the kids you will encounter, and have an impact upon, the next day - Create memories for your students, be the difference makers, fathers, mothers, counselors, coaches, teachers, and friends.  Do good things for others.  Have a blessed 2013.