Weekend Wrap-Up

Where to begin? How much to say? These are the questions that are making this week's wrap-up so hard to do.

Yesterday's KIPP meeting wasn't nearly as settling as I'd hoped, and afterwards, I found out there's still many more questions to be answered which makes it hard to know how much to say here.

But one thing's final. Our Principal is leaving. I was fighting for a while to try and keep him, but he told me a few days ago that he's done. I understand why, and I have to respect that. While I've accepted it, I still haven't let it sink in.

At KIPP, a Principal is given more autonomy than at your average, public school. This year, our Principal ran the school in exactly the way that I've always wanted. He was accessible, he was honest, he truly led and inspired. He took his responsibilities as a partner in our children's education quite seriously, and no job or task was too big or too small for him to handle in one way or another. He even knew how to say, "I don't know" - followed with, "but I'll find out." And he would. He understood our concerns, he saw us parents as whole people. He didn't put us in boxes because we asked too many questions or worked - or didn't. He made it easy for me to be an involved parent at KIPP. And he also completely understood when I couldn't be there. He never thanked us for "taking the time" (which has always implied, to me, willingness). He thanked those "that were able to make it."

And he hired teachers that exemplified the best qualities I want in a teacher. Teachers that understood that a little confidence in a subject can go a long way, that appreciated the concept of encouraging a life-long love of learning. Some of them are leaving, too.

There's more to the story. There's more planning going on. Unfortunately, all this "doing for the kids" has actually taken away many hours from the kids. I'm missing a meeting today to try and rectify that.

Also, saw A Chorus Line, and really enjoyed it (of course). It was great to be with Nancy the night I found out about my promotion. She allowed me to talk non-stop about it until the show began.

Last night, we had a family birthday party to attend, which was fun. Afterwards, my parents took the girls home with them, and I went with some of the family to see Anjelah Johnson perform. Have you seen her YouTube "Nail Salon" video? Completely politically incorrect, but funny. We had fun, laughed a lot...and drank a lot.

CableGirl is working on the buttons for BlogBlast for Education, and they look great! Also, big thanks to BusyDad for pimping it. I'm thrilled that so many of you are planning to participate! I can't wait to read what you have to say.

It's been quite a week, but I think it's just a warm-up for what's in store for next...