Making Waves

I am making waves, in many ways.
I have made the very active decision to fight the policies that have been established that prevent my wife from having access to the health care insurance that the spouses of other employees of the district I work for have access to.
I have encountered many barriers in the past, but have always been concerned with losing my job, or things been made more difficult for me at work. It was done in the past, before I even thought about making waves.
My current school district has determined that their definition of a spouse is the definition of a spouse as defined by the federal tax code. Awesome, right? I mean this is the first year that we have been able to file our taxes as a married couple. So, by federal tax code definition, we are now married.
I bring this up to our HR and receive a response that says thanks for bringing this to our attention but:
Regulation xxxx expressly states that “when a conflict arises between . . . School Board regulations versus state . . . statutes . . . the state . . . statutes will take precedence.” The  State Constitution currently defines marriage as between a man and a woman. Therefore, we cannot currently provide health care benefits to same-sex spouses.
What this wonderful human being did, however, was leave out some information. In every place the ... was typed, a reference to the federal statutes and regulations were referred to. 
After taking this response in for a couple of days, I did respond. 

I thank you for your reply, but further request clarification on this issue.

You have quoted Regulation xxx as the reasoning behind the inability to cover my spouse. However, you did not quote the regulation in its entirety. 

The regulation actually states: 

Plan benefits and provisions are governed by the proposal issued by the successful 

vendor, as amended in negotiations, and by School Board regulations. However, when 

a conflict arises between plan provisions or School Board regulations versus state or 

federal statutes and regulations, the state or federal statutes and regulations will take 

precedence. 

Using your response and evidence for denial, you are stating that our district is choosing to ignore the conflict between policy and federal regulations. 

Our district clearly stated that the definition of spouse, as determined by the federal government, is the definition that it uses. The precedence has already been set that federal policy and regulations rule in the matter of the definition of a spouse. 

I look forward to having a better understanding as to why the district has chosen to ignore the federal policies that are in place.

I am now awaiting a response. I have already been in contact with two school board members and the individual I have communicated with had copied the head of HR, the school board member, and one other individual, so it was only right I copied them my response. I also blind copied my immediate administrator so as to not have her blind sided by a response from the higher ups later. She is, thankfully, very supportive and entertained by the blatant disregard of the entire policy given during the response. 

I not asking for a handout, I am asking to be treating equally and respectfully. The health care premiums will be paid by me, not by the district. 

We were fortunate enough to get some time away during my spring break. This picture is from out beach trip and reminds me that there is a light house to help guide me, even in the worst of of storms, I just have to do my part of the work and look for it. the light house only guides me, I have to get myself into the calm waters of the harbor.

Summer break?

That is such a play on words. Really.

What does summer break really mean? For a teacher, many things. For the most part, it does mean that I do not have to go into class every day or see students. A great benefit. However, this does not mean that I am not working. It does not mean that any teacher is not working. In fact, most teachers are working over the summer break.

For instance, I am able to take advantage of this off time and take professional development classes. I have already attended a full week of class already. I will be teaching AP Economics in the fall and needed to attend the week long training. I can check that one of my list.

I am scheduled to attend a session at the Holocaust museum. I am not so sure I want to go, honestly. Those are some extremely long days and I don't know if I am for it.

I am also scheduled to spend two days at Mount Vernon. I am looking forward to that.

Meanwhile, I am taking an online class that will require me to submit assignments every other day or so. A pretty steady stream of work. While do this I also need to get my planning for the school year done. I am off to a pretty good start, but there is much to do still to prepare for classes to begin.

We took on the challenge to have one of my nephews here for a visit. Wow, what a challenge. He has kept us on our toes. We are hoping to help him catch up with some missing school skills, but there are several other things we are noticing he needs help with.

To add to our already busy summer, we are also going to be moving. It is a positive thing, it really is. It just isn't something we are looking forward to... the actual physical part of moving. The new place, we are so looking forward to. 

School Year In review

The year is coming to an end and I am beginning to take stock in the past year. What has gone right, what has gone wrong? What can I change, what should be left alone?

Coming to a new district I have had to take a look at the type of teacher I am and try to adapt to the new culture of this area. The students that I come into contact with are different and I have to be able to move with that. To be flexible.

As I take a look in the mirror at the year that is passing, I will take a hard look at my teaching and my classroom management and reflect on it. It can be difficult, but I know that in order to be a better teacher,  will need to improve what I am doing.

When do I stop and feel comfortable?

Ever feel like you are forgetting something?

Ever felt like that for a long period of time?

Welcome to my life. Daily, I feel as if I am missing something, forgetting something, and feel like I should be rushing to get something done. When does this feeling end? How do I get it to end?

Change isn't easy

Internally I feel that push that the school year is coming to an end soon. It isn't. At least not as soon as my internal clock feels like it should be. The differences between the school calendars is messing with me. Testing days are just finishing, retest days are approaching, and school should be ending shortly after. However, classes here at my new campus go on for an additional three weeks. Change isn't easy on the internal calendar.

I worry about the summer. It is the first time we have had to put money away to have money for our summer living expenses. I only have two more paychecks before we have to use the money we have been putting away. I worry about it. We have to make sure we have enough money for our living expenses and have money for the extras we try to do over the summer.

It will be a change. I also have to prep for next fall. New classes, new responsibility. 

Tired

It has been a long couple of weeks. Feels like same bs, just a new location. Playing politics isn't fun and I am not very good at it.

How do I know who I can trust? I don't. I am always needing to watch what I say and who I say it to. Do I have to be fake all the time? Is there anyone i can be real with and not have some backlash over?

I am mentally exhausted, which takes a physical toll. which takes a toll on my abilities to handle everything. I seem to feel tired way more often than I should. Taking vitamins isn't helping.

Thoughts of a teacher on April 28

When I began to teach I was full of energy, excitement, and hope for the impact of my chosen profession. i began teaching thinking and believing that I could have a major impact on the students that I would come into contact with.

I enjoyed the content area that I had chosen to teach, that was never been an issue. I enjoyed trying to figure out new ways to engage the students, to help them learn the material, and helping them find that it is possible to be successful.

What has happened to that excitement? What has happened to the belief that I can make an impact on the students I come in contact with? I don't like not feeling excited about that I am doing. The feeling that it is pointless to be in my classroom creeps into my thoughts more and more.

The students that I am in contact with have changed. There are difference in the students of my past and the students of my present. Changes that i am still learning.

Where has the love for my subject gone? Some days, I feel as if I am just phoning it in. I can place some of the blame on it being my first year in a new school and a new district. I have had to be on auto pilot while learning the the new school. the new district, the new area, and getting use to the new location we live in.

I question if i will find this missing link. I sincerely hope I do. I have been trying to adjust to my new schedule. It allows me to do more for me. I get enough time in the day that I am able to be more than just a teacher. This is new for me. Before this I was never able to do to much during the school year. I had always been so busy being a teacher that i had known very little outside of that. I was always a teacher.

Why am I a teacher? I have to admit that there are now days that I ask myself this question. I remind myself that the first year is the toughest, that it will get better. However, the doubts surface often.

As I get use to the subjects, the people, the students, the area, and everything else that is new, I believe it will get easier and I will fill more connected with teaching again. That is the hope and I am wondering when will it happen.

The school year here seems to have dragged out. There aren't many breaks and the year goes three weeks longer that I am use to. That is physically and mentally demanding.

I had hopes that I would adjust quickly, but just as I think I am adjusting, something new is thrown at me and all of the gains seem to be wiped away and I feel as if I don't know what I am doing here. When will I fully feel comfortable here? When will I feel as if I belong here? Will I ever?

Frustration

In the past couple weeks, the frustration with my career choice has grown. I have been telling myself that it goes in cycles, not to worry, see it through to the other side, but honestly it is beginning to take a toll.

I have been more tired the lat few weeks than I can ever remember being. By the end of the work day I am ready for a nap, at least mentally. As I sit here writing this I can feel myself wanting to nod off. Why? What is it about this year that is so much different than the years before?

I have just learned in the past two weeks that I will be teaching AP Economics in the fall. This is not the happiest news ever, a little stressful, but the tired feelings started even before that. Little things are beginning to really bug me. I don't have the tolerance for things. I am, thankfully, keeping myself in check, but internally and after I have done what needs to be done I am not happy about it and am not being nice about it.

I love teaching, I really do. I am wondering if I am teaching anymore.

East Coast Living

We are now almost half way through the second semester of the school year. It is hard to believe that we have been here on the east coast 8 months already. I believe we have all been adjusting fairly well. That isn't saying we haven't had our rough spots, but that is to be expected. We also know that we aren't all going to adjust at the same rate and it isn't going to happen right away. In fact, we have heard it can actually take a year to adjust to a new location. I can see how that is possible.

Since being in the new area we have really tried to get out and explore things more that we had in the past. I think the area lends itself to getting out and about more. There is so much more to do here, the weather is more tolerable, and there are so many things that are free.

I think the hardest adjustment has been my school schedule. It has a tremendous impact on things outside of school. How early I need to get to bed, when I begin to get tired, and thus how much time I have in the late evenings. This is time the Ker and I are use to being able to spend together. We are trying to adjust ourselves. She is a late night person and I am ok with that. In fact, I tend to be too, which makes us compatible, but a late night schedule is not compatible with an early morning work schedule.

We are making the necessary adjustments. We have purchased bicycles and a bike carrier for the Rav so that we can begin biking along the Potomac as the weather improves.

Life has changed, some, but we have seen improvements and not regression. We have, on several occasions, asked if we still think it was a good move. Each time the answer has been yes. 

The State of the Teacher

How many people actually stop and think about everything a teacher does, or tries to get done in a day? I would assume, not many.

There are days, few though, in which I have little more to do than teach the 120 plus students that I am charged with teaching. This in itself is a monumental task. I have 120 plus individuals, with independently thinking brains, independent experiences, ideals, morals, beliefs, and of course opinions. For each of these 120 individuals I have to be prepared to redirect them, individually assess them, individual instruct them, and be able to ascertain if they have had a bad day, a good day, a change in their behavior, the appearance, has there been any outside the classroom experience that will impact their classroom behavior or there responses to their peers. All of this while keeping anything I learn in private and never being straight forward in asking the student if their is an issue and never crossing the line to show an extreme personal interest so as to not appear to be unethical or immoral myself.

Have I mentioned the stress?

As if this isn't enough, there are those days in which actual teaching takes the minimal amount of time of the day and all of the other "stuff" takes up the majority of my time. There are days in which the emails from parents are waiting when I turn on my school computer. Emails requesting that their child be allowed to turn in an assignment late. Even though the student had been aware of the due date for the previous three months. Asking that their child not be held accountable for the assignment in the exact format that everyone else is and in the next breath asking me why it is taking so long to get the grades to them. I am not preparing their child for the real word if I am not allowed to hold them accountable to the requirements set out. I have due dates to meet, the students have due dates to meet, I am expected to be flexible for the students, but I am not given the same amount of flexibility because I am in the real world side of education. So again I ask, if I cannot hold the student accountable, how is it that I am preparing them for the real world?

Have I mentioned the stress?

Meetings, meetings, and more meeting. Paperwork, planning, grading, and time constraints. What do all of these have in common? The teacher. While we, in theory, have time to plan and grade, in practice that time is eaten up in meetings, emails, telephone calls, meetings, forced planning with others that doesn't truly translate into anything you will use in the classroom, meetings, and of course at some point in there you would really like to have time to spend with your own family and sleep.

Have I mentioned stress?

In the perfect world, a teacher gets to specialize, or become and expert in what they are teaching. In the nine years that I have been teaching I have now taught 10 subjects. I have just learned that I will be teaching another subject next year. So, this time next year, after 10 years of teaching I will be able to say I have taught 11 subjects. I am perpetually in a state of first year teacher mode. Does anyone understand the stress that comes with trying to know the subject before you begin teaching the subject, when you aren't teaching the subject for more than one year at a time? Or teaching more than one subject at the same time, in the same state of mind that you are trying to learn it before you teach it?

Have I mentioned stress?

I love teaching, I really do. TEACHING! I am paying for that by dealing with the paperwork, the meetings, the phones calls, the emails, the lack of sleep, the feeling of not fully knowing my subject, and the limited amount of time I seem to get to spend with my family.

Have I mentions the STRESS?

A New Subject to Teach

It seems that the numbers are in and I am going to be teaching AP Economics in the fall. Yippee! Please note the tone of sarcasm in my voice.

I am not a trained economist, not even close. I had said, in passing that yeah I can teach it, not that yeah I wanted to teach it. UGH! Trying to be a team player, but honestly, I am not sure how I am going to be able to do this.

Settling in

We are finally settling in, I think.

The extra money from my retirement account has arrived and we have been able to catch up on bills and purchase many of the things we have been putting off, but need. Being able to feel relaxed about our money issues, makes the move feel more settling and right.

In 10 days we will head to RI for our first family Thanksgiving. It isn't our first Thanksgiving, but it will be the first time that we will be in the company of so much family for the holidays.

We have made it through the first nine weeks of the school year here and the holidays are fast approaching. We are home.

The First Nine Weeks is Over

The first nine weeks at my new school is coming to a close. Today and tomorrow are teacher work days, days we are to use to finish up grading, input grades, and prep for the next nine weeks. I am taking advantage of today, here in my classroom, to get things organized a little better, finish grades, and begin to prep for the next nine weeks.

This past week I have begun to feel more at ease with myself and where I am. It has taken a little while for me to feel more at home. The stress of money and settling in here has been tough, but I am finally feeling like I am where I am suppose to be.

The hurricane came in north of us, thankfully. I feel for those who were hit in the New Jersey and New York areas. It has to be tough for them. I can't begin to imagine what it is like. I think being here has helped us realize that there are a few things we need to make sure we get, for the just in case. A generator is something that will come in handy if the light happen to go out and from what we have heard and seen, it is very possible.

We have been able to get some of the things we have been needing, pay off/catch up with the bills we have had to neglect in order to stay caught up on other things, and we are more relaxed here than we have been.

I don't know what is ahead of us, by I feel more comfortable about facing it than I have in a long while.

A good day ends with a visit to ER

Ker and I had planned to spend a few hours together, without kids yesterday. She had found this really cool National Park that has an awesome waterfall, so we chose that as our destination.

On the way up there I over shot the exit by one, not a big deal right? Just go to the next exit, turn around and get back on the interstate. HA!! That isn't what happens when the exit after the one you should have gotten off on is George Washington Parkway. Completely tree canopied, fall colors, and NO TURN AROUND AREAS in sight.

Not a problem. We aren't held to a time table when it is just the two of us. So we travel for a few miles and find another park, Turkey Run. I figured that there is bound to be a way to go back the way we came from the park.

We spent the next hour or so exploring the park. We got out of the car and hiked down to the Potomac River. It was an awesome view and we had a great time. The hile back up was rough, but we both enjoyed it. Still, we have a waterfall to go see.

Off to our original destination.

Great drive, awesome company, beautiful views. We spend another hour at the waterfall taking a variety of pictures. We are really enjoying our time together, we always do.

As we get ready to leave, literally. We are heading back to the parking lot, when another couple decides they need to go past us in the opposite direction. One things leads to another, Ker loses her balance and she falls. She hits the back side of her head against the rock wall as she falls. She doesn't pass out, but she does cut the back of her head some. We get back to the Visitor's Center and they call for the park EMT. The place an ice pack on it and check her out.

Fast forward 6 hours later and Ker isn't doing so well any longer. She is nauseous and has vomited. This is when the decision to go to the ER is made.

One CAT scan and xray later it is a definite concussion.

We had a great day together, even if it did end up with us in the ER together. It was a great day because it could have been worse. I am thankful that my day stayed a great day!

Life continues

We have now been in Viginia for over two months and although we have had some set backs, moving here was a good move for us.

Learning the new rules of the profession has been tough. I know I can teach, but learning the new expectations, the new language of the district, the state standards, and trying to get to know the department has taken a physical toll. I am tired more than I can remember being in a long time. Trying to get use to the time changes has been difficult. Not losing the hour, but the schedule change. I have to rework when I sleep and that hasn't been easy. K is a night person by nature and she hasn't changed that. She isn't adjusting he schedule. Learning to sleep at a new hour is rough.

I am enjoying my new work place, for the most part. The paper work sucks! But I am getting use to it, I think.

Teaching is still the same, everything else has changed

I am in a new school district and at times I feel as if I have changed professions.
My classroom is still just that, my classroom, but so much around me has changed. There have been a few times, I admit, that I have wondered if I am good enough to teach these kids. They are different. Yes, they are still teens, but honestly, they are different from the students I have taught previously.

The protocols around me are different. If I can just get a handle on the changes, maybe I will feel more settled in. I don't know.

October already

For the first time in years, October 1 has come along with temperatures below 80. Fall is really in the air. Not only has this brought in an environment change, but a psychological change as well. It is hard to explain, but the change in the weather that is happening is also creating a change for us. We will all be experiencing more new things in the months to come. It is exciting, but it does leave me a little apprehensive. What is in front of us? We agree that it will be good for us.

Along with the weather change has been a financial change. The first paycheck of my career here has finally arrived! The rough times aren't fully behind us yet, but now that we have had an influx of money we can see the light at the end of the tunnel. We have been worrying about paying things and now, many of those things have been paid, at least in portion. We do have a long term plan to make it easier and by Thanksgiving we know it will be easier.

School is going well. I am beginning to get a better handle on things there. Adjusting to the new atmosphere, the new routines, the new people, the new demands, and a ton of little things has been challenging. However, I think I am finally beginning to settle in, to a point. I am still trying to find my rhythm when it comes to the clock. It is difficult to adjust my internal schedule. Lesson planning takes time, grading takes time, and with there being a whole new schedule to gt use to, all of those things adjust as well. I am up every morning at 6. Which doesn't seem all that bad, except that it is still dark out. That is taking some getting use to. I actually start teaching my first class before the sun fully rises. I am finished teaching by 1pm every single day. That is VERY odd.

There are adjustments being made and there will be more ahead. There have been some pitfalls along the way, but when we survey they past few months we are still very secure and happy with the decision to move. It has done us well so far.

I have met the parents!!

Tonight was Back to School night. I was extremely worried, honestly. I was concerned that I would live up to the expectations that had been set up for me.

This is the first year that I have all honors kids and they have parents that are involved. They are the parents that will question the teacher, endlessly. They are the parents that you must be one step ahead and be fully prepared for the unexpected question.

However horrible it is, I enjoyed it! I think I actually connected with the parents. I can walk away from this night knowing I made a positive connection with the parents.

The administration was in here for a good majority of the time and I do believe they enjoyed the music video I showed the parents.

I feel confident in declaring this was a success!!

First week done

Our first week of school is done. It was a short week, but it was a rough one physically and emotionally.

Being on my feet all day long is tough and my paycheck from Texas was short. We are not happy campers when it comes to our finances. We have had to make some tough decisions. There isn't enough money to pay rent, the bills, and eat.

 I tried to get a loan from the new credit union. They offered new to the district teachers transition loans.  They made it sound like we would be able to receive $3500, but in reality it was up to $3500.  We were only given $500. That isn't enough to cover our expenses. We are being creative.

L has yet to return to work. We are both ready to beat her. She seems to feel no responsibility for herself or to help us even though we are feeding her, taking her toand from school, housing her, and just plain ole dealing with her. Neither of us are sure what to do. We have talked to her until we are our in the face. We have yelled. We have tried to explain how tough things are. Yet, NOTHING!

What are we suppose to do?

We look forward to the fact that it is only another 3 weeks before I get paid, but we do know that it will not be an easy October. We will have to figue out how to double pay on all of our bills. It will not be an easy couple of months.

We know how we are going to get out of it, but it will take time before we get it. I am going to have to withdraw money from my retirement account. The money will be used to catch up on everything. It isn't the best option, but it is the only one we have.

Neither of us regret the move, but it isn't what we expected yet.

Students arriving soon

I have been working within the district for two full weeks now. Seems impossible that it has been two weeks, but there are no more work days left before the students begin classes on Tuesday.

The adjustment is happening, slowly. Trying to get use to new terminology, new procedures, different ideas on things, and of course the new environment. One thing that hasn't changed, I still don't feel ready for the first day. My classroom doesn't quite feel like me yet, but in time it will.

Ker and the kids came up to help me finish what I could today. It was nice having them there, makes it feel more like mine.

The move, so far, has proved tone a good one. We have encountered some issues, but we are working with them the best we can. No regrets leaving Texas.