The Job

I'm just starting to figure out my job here. I signed on thinking that I would be a teacher and elementary department chair, but the first time I saw this sign by my classroom, I realized there were other expectations of me.

I spoke with the principal today, and she's very excited about the potential for creativity in providing ESL services for our 175 ELLs. It's a difficult situation, however, with classroom teachers who didn't necessary sign on to teach a class with a majority of children at the beginning level of English language acquisition. Many have not had formal training in sheltering content for ELLs, and there is a certain amount of panic among them.

On the plus side, I've got a fantastic group of 11 teachers in the ESL department, loads of resources, curriculum/materials, and technology: smartboards, computer labs, laptop carts, software galore, broadband, of course. I also have a lovely Indian assistant, who gets everything done for me and the department. All of the people are so helpful, and young men come every afternoon to wash the desks, whiteboards,and floors. Plus it's a lovely campus with nourishing lunches, cappuccinos, and strong air conditioning.

Still, there are a lot of needs, stressed kids who can't settle in, concerned parents in tears, teachers who haven't figured out how to team teach with the ESL teacher in their classroom, scheduling conundrums and the like. Each day presents new challenges, and I do my best to stay completely present in the moment as I deal with them all.

The most rewarding part of the day, of course, is my 90-minute block with my low beginning 4th graders. They have come so far in just these first few weeks, and we will go much further together in the coming months. They are such a joy to work with.

So, though I've resisted for years, I've become a bit of an administrator, and I'm doing the best I can, trying to harness our cumulative potential to find better ways to serve the kids.