Lessons Learned

Preparing for PARCC testing, second round evaluations, and the normal chaos of being a principal made me fell like I was running on empty.  It always seems when I am feeling overwhelmed as an educator something happens to remind me of why we teach children.  Today, a greater force sent a child messenger to teach an old man. My secretary's eyes said more than the note that she handed me.  Her moist red eyes provided emotion to the words.   I stood in shocked silence as I read that JP found his middle school sister unresponsive in the bathtub last night.  The squad and police responded.  His sister was transported to the hospital and is recovering.  I starred straight ahead avoiding eye contact as my secretary told me that JP was absent. My heart sank and I fought back tears.  My nose was burning as I thought about the young girl who was a student at our school last year.  Questions raced through my head. How was JP?  Was he safe? ...

Today, my friend was called home way too early in life.   He took care of his family and was a loyal friend.   He fought the good fight and he finished the race.   I find comfort today as I close my eyes and recall his good nature and the sound of his laugh. Alphabetical order placed O’Rourke next to Oxley in freshmen seventh period English.    Pat was a new kid in the Harbor and was fair game for some good natured pranking.    Someone convinced him that there was a swimming pool on the third floor of our seventy year old high school.   Pat went searching for the pool.    He laughed with us when he figured out that he was had.   O’Rourke passed our initiation and he became fast friends with a band of Harbor knuckleheads. O’Rourke was a kid from a loving family.   He had a strong work ethic and truly enjoyed the clowning nature of his friends.   In keeping with a Harbor tradition,   he quickly earned a nickname....