The Greatest Compliment

Principles of Math 11 Class (Fall 2010)

As mentioned in a previous blog entry, it was an amazing and unique opportunity to greet these very students in this photo from my Math 11 class in 2010 on their graduation day as school trustee in 2012.  I loved being with this math class.  They were so dynamic, diverse, and engaged… it was a math teacher’s dream.  I also loved addressing their graduating class on behalf of the Board of Education and shaking their hands as they received their school leaving certificates and grad photo composite.  I am very grateful to have this memorable experience with these students in the classroom and on stage.

This picture was taken on my last day of work, November 26, 2010.  Yes, I left in the middle of the semester.  Yes, timing could have been better.  Yes, it was the right time to go.  Strangely, because these kids and my other classes of Science 9, Math 12, and Workplace Math 10 were so great, it seemed like a good time to embark on other education leadership adventures that involves teaching and learning.  My students were so upbeat and seemingly self-sufficient to advocate for their own learning, it’s much easier for me as a teacher to let go and take a different direction.  I love these guys so much… they reciprocated their love and respect for me by letting me go with grace and dignity in 2010 and continued our mutual love and respect with hugs and kind words at graduation.

To be truthful, I will always remember this graduating class.  I was at the face with change in 2010 and they were there for me.  In 2012, they are at the face of change and I was there for them.  I will never forget the support this class and many other students had given me almost two years ago.  I am truly enjoying my new role as school trustee as a means of support students and their learning.  But the point of this blog was to talk about “the greatest compliment.”  Honestly, the greatest compliment is when students ask me when I will be returning back to teaching… when parents ask me when I will be returning to teaching… when colleagues ask me when I will be returning back to teaching.  This question has struck a chord with me lately and I feel that I should acknowledge these people who asked in my blog.

This is not an easy question to answer.  I love teaching.  I love learning.  I love educational leadership.  Right now, I am enjoying my role as school trustee, graduate student, and entrepreneur.  I like that I get to go on field trips or school assemblies with my daughter.  I like being a part of policy making and governance of a school district.  I like checking out different schools to see how people do their jobs and watch students engage in their learning.  I like that I can explore an aspect of teaching as a researcher and investigate the problem with some objectivity.  I like that I am still teaching students and teachers with my company.  I am in a good place right now.  However, once my 3-year term has ended as school trustee and my dissertation is complete… who knows what the future holds.  I may return back to teaching or explore other options that promotes teaching and learning.  We’ll soon see.  It’s one day at a time.