On Starting Again

"Are you still writing?"

A well meaning friend asked the question that many had been avoiding for the last few months.

"Well..."

The hesitation was not an attempt to avoid the question, but rather a pause to find the words to explain. The truth is hard to define.

In July, I started a new role in the district office. It is a fabulous job, filled with all the things I love like curriculum, instruction, strategy and systems! Every day is interesting, filled with new challenges and things to be figured out. The team of people I engage with daily are absolutely amazing and I am inspired by each of them.

Being surrounded by so many tasks and people that I enjoy should help me to write more, feel more inspired, filled with a desire to share it all with others. And I do want to share what I am learning and seeing and loving. And I am inspired by so many things. A lack of inspiration is definately not the problem.

Instead, the issue seems to be related to what this new position is missing.

• I don't have daily engagement with the students we are here to serve.

• Seeing the amazing learning that is occurring in the classrooms is harder to do (not impossible, but takes a little more planning).

• I miss hearing the perspectives of the amazing teachers, paraprofessionals, custodians, secretaries, clerical staff, librarians, counselors and fellow site administration that are shared when I occupied the same space.

It seems my issue is that I am no longer on a school site. The distance makes me wonder if I have anything left to say that is relevant, relatable, or needed. (Self doubt is one of my strengths, as you can see!)

So the question that my brave and caring friend asked has made me realize that the barrier to writing has been...well...ME. I have struggled to find my voice when I am so far from hearing yours, my friends in the trenches and my favorite fabulous students!

What is great about having friends who aren't afraid to ask the difficult questions, is that they also help you to see your way through. With a few quick questions, this friend helped me to understand that all I can offer is my perspective on things, from where I am, using my years of experience on site as a guide and my new learning as food for thought. I still work in education. I talk to fabulous teachers and administrators every day, and my own children bring a perspective into education that should also be considered. Not only that, YOU are still there, doing the work.

Amazing work.

Difficult work.

Sometime draining work.

Essential work.

Every. Single. Day.

So, I start again. I start to share my stories, my thoughts and my perspectives with you with the same purpose that I had when I first started to write The Monday Memo over 7 years ago (not all those were published here...some were only for the eyes of my amazing staff!).

My purpose continues to be YOU. I hope to encourage you in the work that you do for students, to remind you that you are making a difference, to challenge you to keep moving forward and trying new things, and to let you know that you are seen...even by those in the big ol' District Office.

You are loved.

Kim