Monday, March 23, 2009

Where Everybody Knows Your Name

I am glad I chose to do something that I love for a living. One of the things that I enjoy the most about work is the camaraderie and friendships I have made in the eight-plus years I've been teaching at my school. The "Cheers" theme song always kind of plays in my mind as I walk, ride my bike, or drive to school. The words to the song remind me of how I feel as a staff member and parent at the school.

My first week of teaching was one I will never forget. I picked up my dry cleaning on the way to school and the old Chinese woman behind the counter was gesturing for me to look at the TV behind her counter. I had a tough time placing what I was seeing, but when I turned on KCBS on the radio in my car on the way to school that morning I listened as the announcer described the World Trade Center building falling to the ground. I pulled into the school parking lot and another teacher, Mrs. Finan, had just arrived at the same time. We bumped into a few other teachers on campus before an emergency staff meeting was called. It was a moment where we bonded and came together to help our children through the day.

There are lighter moments that have left lasting memories as well. I pulled off perhaps the most notorious April Fool's Day pranks in a long time at our school in 2003. I had fixed a letter announcing a Teacher of the Year for someone on staff to be placed in her mail box. It looked too real to not be true. I forgot about the letter that morning but not so much when I came back on campus after grabbing a bite to eat. The secretary had laminated the letter and was sharing it with the teacher and principal when I walked into the office. Whoops.

Thanks to intramural sports and student council, I've been able to get to know so many more families and students than the 30 or so I have in my room each day. It's been a way to make connections and friendships that has given me so many memories and joy. My school is definitely a place where everybody knows my name and they're always glad I came!





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