August 4, 2010

• Hola!

  If you recall, I originally didn’t apply for the Assistant Principal position. Instead, I applied to be the Program Manager – a position that my Head of Schools believed to be too entry-level for me. I told him that I was interested in operations and knew that there were opportunities to move up in the department. However, flattered by his suggestion to apply for the AP job, I did! Let’s just say, when I first started, there was some needed adjustment. I’ve been doing SPED for so long that to do something completely out of my element is challenging. I’m still semi-adjusting, but I’m getting the hang of it. I tell myself that it will take time. As an AP, you’re expected to know everything that’s going on, and I don’t…at least, not yet.

  Back in Boston, friends asked me what I planned to do out here, and when I replied, their eyes would widen. They would say “WOW!” or “Oh no…you’re going to the dark side.” I’ve been getting used to being an AP. I still find it a bit strange when teachers come to me to ask me if it’s alright if they step out of the building real quick to pick up something or when teachers tell me they have doctor’s appointments and will have to miss a bit of school. Also, I was a bit nervous about being administration for a school with returning teachers. They definitely know more than me, but they have been great.  Everyone is very welcoming and helpful. I really like my school and the principal at my campus. I hope that I can prove to all of them and especially to myself that I can do this job well.

  My school is a shared space. Denver Public Schools has a lot of empty buildings so they allow us to use them.  We are on the 4th floor of the south wing of a large school that also houses a creative arts K-8 school. We have completely separate spaces except for the library, cafeteria, playground, and the gym. There is no A/C so it is hot, but with cold water and two fans in my office that are blowing at me from different directions help me stay cool. I do have my own office with the largest work desk I’ve ever had. There are no windows and the walls are need of cheering up since they’re completely bare at this moment. The one decoration I have is a Brandeis pennant hanging on my door. I plan to have photos on my desk, maybe a plant, and a small lamp at some point. Each grade level is divided into four advisories (of around 30 kids each) which are named after college names. These colleges are picked based on a teacher’s alma mater. This year, we have West Virginia, Metro State, Tufts, Miami, Colorado, Denison, Bowdoin, and Georgia. The teachers all own carts, so during the school year, the teachers move while the students stay in their advisories.

  We had orientation for all our students last Saturday. It was insane to have 250+ people in a hot building, but it was nice meeting all the kids and their families. Unfortunately, I couldn’t communicate with everyone. I’m really bothered that I can’t speak Spanish that well though. Surprisingly, I can occasionally understand what people are asking or saying to me, but I have a difficult time speaking back to them. Hmm…sounds like my Chinese. I’m really excited about the professional development money the school allocated to me though. I’m definitely going to use it for Spanish lessons.

  ….and if you’re wondering what I do all day….

  My main responsibilities include:
  1. Student Intervention Process (Response to Intervention)/Managing a Team and Tracking/Monitoring Interventions
  2. Organizing Assessments (including network-, state-, and district-wide assessments)
  3. Teacher Observations (informal and formal)
  4. Organizing Enrichments and Placement (i.e. sports, board games, book club, poetry slam, etc.)
  5. Character Education Curriculum Planning

  I do a number of additional tasks, such as planning some Friday Community Meetings, beautifying our hallways with bulletin boards and photos, facilitating meetings, making sure teachers have what they need to be great teachers, etc.

  Come to think of it, my lunch break is over, and I must get back to work. Next task? Clean up the enrichment closet and take inventory of what we have.

  Oh! I almost forgot to tell you! Roger’s family is flying into Denver TONIGHT! Roger and I spent last night cleaning and hanging pictures on the walls. I’m excited that we’ll get a chance to show them around. I will update later once this weekend is over!

  • 3:53 pm
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