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Do What You Are Good At.

Just recorded a vent session.  It is ironic that a person who dislikes change as much as I do is working in education.  One of the most frustrating things is watching people people move "up" from job to job without ever really mastering the tasks of their current job first.  

 No one seems to take the time to be come truly awesome at what they do before moving on to the next level or phase of their career.  The fault for this rapid rise approach to an education career does not rest fully on the individual.  District administrations tend to award a job well done with a promotion or move to another position, rather than offering incentive to stay where the person is the most effective.

 What if people were allowed to stay in a position long enough to master it and teach others who are just beginning the lessons and skills learned along the way?

Instead we have conversations that in simplified terms goes something like this...

 "you are an awesome teacher, you have almost 100% engagement from all students.  You have no classroom management problems and your lesson plans and vertical alignment are second to none.  You are truly one of the best teachers we have ever seen, so we would like it if you would leave the classroom and facilitate other teachers from our central office"

 in essence... "We are taking you away from what you excel at in order for you to do something else."

 Wouldn't it be better for the students if that amazing teacher to stayed in the classroom and demonstrated/modeled their skills through other modalities?   

 keeping a teacher like that in the classroom should be the real goal.  Allow others to learn from observation or other means.  It makes no sense removing a teacher from the classroom where they are effective.

 just some thoughts

 Chris 

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