One day as an assistant principal in a high poverty elementary school.

One day as an assistant principal in a high poverty elementary school.
It's very hard to explain to people what I do everyday. Most people think I'm the guy handling when some one gets in trouble. Which in their mind rarely happens and you just call their parents and that's it.
This morning I started the day off with little sleep because I was up at 2 in the morning with my wife because she was sick.
First arrival. I have two buses with over 60 students on them. Sounds like good planning and saving money. However , the students have difficulty getting along. We have lots of bus discipline problems and a progressive discipline plan to follow. Also, calling parents about bus problems can be an all day affair because you can't get find anyone at home. Also, the fact that over crowding causes a lot of the problems in the first place. A huge tipping point happened this week because teachers decided to ride on of the buses.  I have suggested and invited teachers to do this before but never insisted they do this.  On Thursday, they saw the need from my actions.  I don't think they realize what a big step this is as a school.  Those 63 students are the hardest to reach everyday and it's going to take more than what they have done in the past.  Seeing the neighborhood and extending the bond they have with those students is super critical.  If those students can follow the rules in their class why not on the bus.  They don't realize that when I ride the bus it's not as a buddy but to get someone in trouble and I'm perceived differently at that point.  Also, I believe parents are noticing because they are coming out to meet the kids.  Normally maybe one or two guardians are out, on the second day they told me of at least 6 parents out.

Next, I have spent three days trying to get a testing results meeting scheduled and I finally got that coordinated today.  Every time they agreed to a date they would email back to change the date and then I have to contact parents which is never easy at our school.
Next I headed to second grade to do a lesson on blogging. Our Byot class - pilot program, was trying this for the first time. My idea was to read a book to them and have them commenting and answering questions in real time.  I set up the blog and tested the blog in two locations to make sure it wasn't blocked, but I didn't have time to check the lab.  Of course the lab was blocked.  We quickly adjusted and used Word instead.  Using Word worked just as well for the kids because they didn't know the difference.  I was really amazed at how engaged they were at how much typing they were doing. As I was trying to teach a student came in looking for me and two teachers came in asking for help on technology.  I really enjoyed the activity because the kids seem to love it.  Second graders aren't jaded by life yet and really appreciate anything new.  One student that seems never to get anything was laughing at all the unstated jokes in the book, loved it!!!
As soon as I finished I email tech people about unblocking site and left for another teachers room.  She had problems with her projector communicating with her computer ever since the electricity went out two days ago.  She uses her mimio board, interactive white board, very effective and needs the projector for a lot of her instruction.  I spent about 15 minutes and realized a needed back up.  Luckily our one day per week substitute tech person was sitting in the office with nothing to do???????  I forget to tell you he is a high school student at our charter school in the county.  I sent him to work on the job while I got back to getting kidblog.com unblocked.  It took several emails especially after I asked, did anyone actually go to the site they were blocking.  It should be operating on Monday.

I read through a few emails and double checked my calendar and ran to lunch room duty.  We had someone out today and there was a sub and one other adult which is hard of hearing doing lunch duty, so you understand it was a little crazy.  My goal everyday is to talk to as many students possible about learning goals, but first I have to keep the order.  Today was mostly keeping the peace.
I was almost to the end of lunch when a special student was loosing it.  Everyone in the school is trying to help her but it's not working.  She has MAJOR home life problems and she's just a kindergartener.  This took about an hour and the principal taking with step-mom while I was attempting to calm the student.  Not fun, but just part of the job.  While this event was going on another teacher walked by reminding me of the conference with a parent in a few minutes.
The student is the classic drop out candidate.  He is very capable but his parents let him stay home if he feels bad, slightly.  I think we had a good conference with the step dad.  I just tried to tell him what he was creating by letting him stay home.  I think the problem is more the mother and she want talk with us.
Next I tried to balance the checking account.  As soon as I stop in my office someone is going to come in.  A teacher needed help filling out some paper work for a doctor for one of her students.  I finished both of these task while receiving texts from my wife that she was feeling worse.  I left early to get her to the doctor and I was only at work 5 hours today.  I continued answering emails all weekend and sent our reminders for activities next week.
I believe most educators days are like this IF they are trying to make a difference.  I actually loved those five hours at school.  I just wish I had more resources to move our school faster into the 21st century.  We need a full time social worker, an instructional technology teacher, and another special education teacher devoted to teaching reading.
Be the change you wish to see in the world. Gandi