Professional Goals

I'm often asked how much I like my job.  I particularly like the way in which people ask me as they look at me through a sideways, pitied face, "Soooo, do you like your job?"  I always respond the same way: not only do I like it, I love every minute of it.  If I were asked the question, "if you could do ANYTHING you wanted with your life, what would it be?"  I would say the job I'm doing right now.  Of course there are challenges, but there are challenges with any job.  However, when you're in the kid business, hard decisions become easy when you are focused on what is important.

With my job, I've developed many new professional goals for myself.  One of the many things that describes a typical day for me is working from interruption to interruption.  I quickly had to move past my OCD tendencies that all things I begin must be completed before going home each day, because it just isn't possible.  However, knowing that I work from interruption to interruption, I have always prided myself on multi-tasking.  On closer inspection... I've realized I've just been lying to myself for several years, and it's time to change.

I remember specific times teaching band at NHS when kids would come up to me in the office.  I'd hear some distant muttering as I hammered away at my computer, until finally, I'd hear something like, "HEY! YOU IN THERE??"  Oops.. I'd jerk around in my chair, apologize, and begin listening.  Then, slowly, as the student would begin talking to me again, I'd turn into that phone commercial where the hand goes off on its own... I'd find myself turning ever so slowly back to the computer, all the while nodding at the student (I had stopped listening long before the turning began of course..), until there I would be again, hammering away, not listening.  I made a pact with my classes my second year at NHS, so that when a student would come in, they would get between me and my computer, look at me in the eyes and say, "Mr. Liesenfeld, I need you to make eye contact through this conversation, okay?"  Yes, yes, what a wonderful teacher I was, asking the students to be more responsible for my actions than myself...

And here I am, my third year as an administrator, school has not yet even begun, and yesterday, as I was sitting at my desk emailing folks, two teachers at two different times tried to have conversations with me, and guess what I was doing?  Not multi-tasking, that's for sure...  Teachers are much too nice than to call me out on my failure to connect with them, so they just continue talking, hoping I get some of what they're saying to me.  Well, friends, it's time I take responsibility for myself this time, and stop this one before the year even begins.  Sooooo, professional goal #1:

I am in the people business, not the computer typing business.  When a patron (student, parent, colleague, community member, etc) needs my attention, I will give it to them fully.  I will do this with 100% accuracy by the end of the first nine week grading period.  Benchmarks will take place daily, scored by myself and the patrons in front of me.

In other news... We're having a cookout for the 6th grade teachers this evening over at our house, and I can't tell you how excited I am about it!  I've roped Chebon into cooking the burgers for me, because, as we all know, I don't even know how to start a grill... And speaking of the grill, we checked it again last night, because about a week ago it was shooting flames from the "regulator" (sounds like a Terminator 2 reference, but I'll trust Chebon when he tells me that's what it is), but last night all seemed well.  Let's put it this way, if anybody hears a loud BOOM from the northeast part of town this evening, it isn't fireworks..

I've missed being able to swim with Emily and spend time with Benjamin.  As excited as I am for school, like I've said many times before, I sure do hate leaving them.  I'm sure Leslie enjoys the breaks from me, but I sure would rather be home annoying her and the kids :)

Hope everybody has a wonderful day.  My ten miles this morning was a wee bit better than the last time, and at least I'm not feeling nauscious today!