The prostitute teacher and other people we work with – SCN Encourager

Many of our best blessings are not all that far away

We work alongside some amazing people.

What a blessing this is.

Different ages.

Different backgrounds.

Different personalities.

Different interests.

I wouldn’t trade the people I work with… and I doubt you would, either.

(But if you see a flyer pop up in your office from my district offering to trade me away on the cheap, just ignore it. It’s something my superintendent always sends out this time of year. Can’t figure out why.)

Often a situation of the moment determines who we’ll work with.

About 10 years ago, the principal of our K-1 school called me at my office to report a situation with a “prostitute” teacher.

Of course, like Deputy Barney Fife on the trail of a jaywalker, I hopped in my car and raced over.

I began thinking through possible “key messages” the whole time.

My MSPRA colleagues would’ve been proud.

Principal Judy was waiting for me when I arrived.

The mother of one of her students was there, too.

“Just give me the facts, ma’am,” I said, or something very much like it.

So the mom explained.

“I asked my son last night about his day at school,” she said. “He said that Mrs. Miller was sick and that he had a ‘prostitute teacher.’ Principal Judy thought you’d want to investigate this personally, so she called you over.”

Then they both started laughing as I put my pen and notebook away.

Wisenheimers! (As my dad and Barney would say,)

During the short drive back to my office, I chuckled as well.

You gotta love the stories that come out of our schools.

Because of her wit and her “inner joy” for her school, I always enjoyed working with Principal Judy.

She once sent out a holiday greetings flyer to her parents with a clever David Letterman type countdown list.

It read:

Here are the top 10 things I’ve learned so far from our kids

10.  They are why Velcro was made. 
9.  The tooth fairy, Santa, and Easter Bunny are extremely busy.
8.  Prep for winter recess should be taught as a content area.
7.  Birthdays are recognized more than national holidays.
6.  There is no such thing as “holding it.”
5.  It’s impossible to get 100s of black mittens back into the right hands.
4.  Opening milk cartons and spork packets takes an engineering degree.
3.  Wearing a necklace that holds your tooth is a major status symbol.
2.  The word UNDERWEAR is the funniest word of all time.
1.   There’s magic in the air now. Enjoy!
SEASON’S GREETINGS FROM OUR SCHOOL!

This is nice, isn’t it?

Although Principal Judy retired from our district a few years ago, she didn’t take all of the fun and love of life with her.

Many of the people I work are like this – and I think friendly like-minded personalities populate the vast majority of school settings.

It’s another blessing we share as school leaders and communicators..

Take note and go out of your way to really enjoy the people you work with today.

Things can always change for the worse, you know.

I might be headed your way via trade!

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