An all too familiar experience

I apologize in advance for the lack of cohesion this post will have...it's more about me purging emotion than publishing a well-written piece.

I walked into the building as our principal instructed teachers to make sure they read the bulletin for an important announcement. Unfortunately that announcement we were supposed to read was about the death of one of our students. A sophomore boy named Jamel collapsed at wrestling practice yesterday afternoon and died in the hospital last night. The announcement also instructed teachers to share the news with our students this morning.

J. walked into my room first thing this morning and we began our morning conversation just like every other morning. This morning J. started to tell me about a wrestler having to go to the hospital yesterday at practice. I was not prepared to break this news, but I asked J. to wait a moment before going out to the hallway (where discussions were already being had). I told him that I needed to talk to him about the incident he had just mentioned and proceeded to share the information I had with him. Blank. The blank...I don't know how to process, this must be a joke, how could this happen...stare that I have seen too many times in my ten years of education.

That look haunts me. In ten years of education, I have attended 10 funerals of students and athletes (none in the past three years). I have always said the one thing that will drive me out of education is having to deal with the loss of my students...it is something I have a very difficult time coming to terms with. As bad as it sounds, I am glad that I didn't know this student personally (although I hear he was a really great young man...it seems that the ones we lose generally are)...I'm not sure that I would have had the strength to deal with that loss right now.

It is exactly ten days until the anniversary of Dustin's death. I generally find myself to be melancholy a good portion of November. The 28th has been in the back of my mind and I've subconsciously been preparing for the day. Despite my best efforts, there will be both an uncontrollable physical and emotional reaction. I wasn't prepared for the sadness to settle in today, but the news and the reactions to Jamel's death have opened the floodgates.

I am fortunate to work in a field in which I get to know and love teens...on the flip side of that, they are often the most unpredictable and risk-taking group alive. They still think they are invincible and often put themselves into dangerous situations. The loss of young life is the most tragic of any loss...so much potential lost to the world. I don't know that I will ever come to grips or understand why this happens.

More positive posts to come later...promise.

Humbled and at a loss for words

Yesterday my friend Doug said he had a question for me. He said that I'd be receiving an email, but he wanted to know if I would accept the nomination for Teacher of the Year. The question stopped me in my tracks. What?!! In my head I immediately began listing all the reasons why I wouldn't receive the honor and started to voice them to Doug.

He stopped me and said, "Jodi, those don't mean you aren't deserving of the nomination."

So, I accepted the nomination. I am awed and humbled because I am so lucky to work with so many amazing teachers. That I would even be considered in this category is...well...honestly, I am at a loss for words. I do not think the process will go any further than the nomination, but sometimes being acknowledged is more than enough!

Cute...Cute...Cute!!!

Avery as Velma, Tate as Scooby, and Mya as Daphne this past Halloween. Definitely the cutest costumes (and kids, though I am partial) we saw all night!

A late Veteran's Day post

I missed out on spending time with my friend Ron and his twin boys last night because of some complications that arose with a task I had to complete. While I did thank him and had him honored at a former school's Veterans' Day assembly, I wanted to do it here as well...to immortalize it, in a sense.





Rank: Captain

Branch of Military: US Army

Years of Service: 8 years

Duty Stationed: Baghdad, Iraq

While I may not always agree with our government's view on war, I will always support those brave men and women who volunteer their services and often their lives so that I may live the way in which I do.

Adopt a Player...Warm fuzzy #2

About a week ago the football coaches sent an email around saying that the players had attributed much of their success this season to the administration, faculty and staff that work with them day in and day out. As a token of appreciation for inspiring, assisting, and being a positive influence on them, the players decided that they would each ask someone to "adopt" them...to wear his jersey at school on Friday and at the game on Saturday. It really was a sweet gesture and I ended the week on a very high note as I had multiple young men come and ask me to wear their jerseys. Rickie however was the first to ask me and I was honored to wear #5 at school and to the game on Saturday.

Move complete!

I'm finally moved and for the most part unpacked...what a nice feeling!
Although I would never have chosen for this situation to play out at the time that it did, the change of scenery and the "out with the old and in with the new" attitude is actually refreshing.

All but a couple boxes are unpacked and this new place is already feeling like home. It is so nice to have all my comforts (photos, music, favorite books, etc.) around me again...it's amazing how removed from myself I felt when all these things were boxed away.

If only all the paper grading I sloughed on while moving would go away...life would be perfect.