Tomorrow’s my day off.
Well, my day off from here.
She scans the green and red
crates with distracted ease.
I volunteer at CAMH on Mondays.
And Tuesdays I answer phones at
a respite home.
There are items missing from my
order. This has become familiar.
I will need to go into the store
to grab onions and apples.
She notices me noticing.
Onions and apples are missing.
She says.
Sorry for the inconvenience.
She hands me a blue card.
Bold script reads-
We value your business.
We apologize for the
inconvenience with your
order. Please use this
code to get $10 off your
next order.
I ask what school she attended.
Seneca.
She explains that the program
was good but it’s been a
challenge to find paid work.
She is bothered.
She dials up an edge of sarcasm.
Lot’s of volunteer options
though…
A quiet space expands into
our conversation. Her sudden
story sharing has made a
transactional moment feel
like so much more.
We are caught in an eddy.
She breaks the silence.
Thanks for the chat.
I consider the service
rendered and bounce back
with a You’re welcome
that sounds more like
a question than an
offering.
career
Interim – Day 8 – release
Over a weekend I interviewed and successfully gained the position of Interim Head of Special Education at my High School. The position is short term, 10 days in length, but could be extended until the end of the semester.
I have been in Special Education for over a decade, but this is my first position of responsibility in this department.
These posts are going to focus on the ideas and questions that popped up on the daily.
Some got answered, some are still in process. Most questions I had some clue how to action, but even more have me chasing squirrels to find answers.
LIVING THE QUESTIONS [IN NO PARTICULAR ORDER]
How did I lead in the past 8 days? Where did I lead us to in the past 8 days? Why did I lead us to those places?
Was that department meeting a valuable use of our time? What adjustments need to be made to increase access, interest, and engagement?
What about the peeps that do not need me to lead them?
I have the itchy-sweater-feeling that I should be doing something right now.
Being present is difficult. How do I shake the feeling that an unknown deadline is looming?
Today was about connecting with my team. Damn it felt good to work on a thing together.
Interim – Day 7 – pause
Over a weekend I interviewed and successfully gained the position of Interim Head of Special Education at my High School. The position is short term, 10 days in length, but could be extended until the end of the semester.
I have been in Special Education for over a decade, but this is my first position of responsibility in this department.
These posts are going to focus on the ideas and questions that popped up on the daily.
Some got answered, some are still in process. Most questions I had some clue how to action, but even more have me chasing squirrels to find answers.
LIVING THE QUESTIONS [IN NO PARTICULAR ORDER]
Getting some whiplash from shifts between big picture, little picture, and picture in picture perspectives.
Sometimes it’s ‘who ya know’ and sometimes it’s ‘how ya know them’.
There is no spare moment.
“Hey hi, could I just ask a quick question?”
Thank you. Really. Thank you.
How can I make our department meeting shorter?
“That depends…”
Yes I will send out another reminder about our department meeting this week, with the meet link.
Yes I will send out another reminder about our department meeting Friday, with the meet link.
Yes I will send out another reminder about our department meeting tomorrow, with the meet link.
Interim – Day 6 – reality
Over a weekend I interviewed and successfully gained the position of Interim Head of Special Education at my High School. The position is short term, 10 days in length, but could be extended until the end of the semester.
I have been in Special Education for over a decade, but this is my first position of responsibility in this department.
These posts are going to focus on the ideas and questions that popped up on the daily.
Some got answered, some are still in process. Most questions I had some clue how to action, but even more have me chasing squirrels to find answers.
LIVING THE QUESTIONS [IN NO PARTICULAR ORDER]
Whatever amount of time I think a thing will take- double it. One move is consistently taking two steps to make.
Need more long exhales. Need to stay off my toes … feel like I am constantly preparing to launch.
Losing track of my thoughts. Constantly.
I am manufacturing, noticing, and stressing about stress simultaneously. How is this even possible?
35 minute parent phone call- me all listening, them all big emotions.
This is not solvable right now, is it?
Avoid mono sensing. Stay open. See the obstacles as paths to possible solutions.
“It depends…”
That strange moment when you finish a task that Person A asked you to take care of, then Person A tells you to give it to Person B, and then Person B tells you the task was already completed…but thanks.
“I have a budget request…”
7:45 AM I arrived at school, 5 minutes later it was 4:30 PM.
Interim – Day 5 – ejection
Over a weekend I interviewed and successfully gained the position of Interim Head of Special Education at my High School. The position is short term, 10 days in length, but could be extended until the end of the semester.
I have been in Special Education for over a decade, but this is my first position of responsibility in this department.
These posts are going to focus on the ideas and questions that popped up on the daily.
Some got answered, some are still in process. Most questions I had some clue how to action, but even more have me chasing squirrels to find answers.
LIVING THE QUESTIONS [IN NO PARTICULAR ORDER]
Who will not have access to our department meeting time? Why?
When I say “department”, who do I see?
Can I make space for this interruption? How will I recover my time?
This is the work. The interruptions are the fabric that I gotta flex with.
The depth of wisdom in this department is awesome.
Feeling like I am drinking from the firehose. How can I manage the advice, ‘by the ways’, and emails to sustain my work and support others?
“I will circle back to this” is now my mantra, commitment, and assurance.
Gotta make more time for “What if?”
Feeling the weight of “other duties as assigned by the principal” factor right about now.
Who have I not met yet at this school?
Do I know all of my colleagues names?
Interim – Day 4 – litigation
Over a weekend I interviewed and successfully gained the position of Interim Head of Special Education at my High School. The position is short term, 10 days in length, but could be extended until the end of the semester.
I have been in Special Education for over a decade, but this is my first position of responsibility in this department.
These posts are going to focus on the ideas and questions that popped up on the daily.
Some got answered, some are still in process. Most questions I had some clue how to action, but even more have me chasing squirrels to find answers.
Living The questions [in no particular order]
Staff absences today, how do I make sure that supply staff have what they need to get rolling?
Damn, I forgot to charge my walkie talkie. What is my process to make sure that I charge my walkie talkie at the end of the day?
I think I have to know this, I think that my understanding of this ministry document could be a game changer for this kid.
The meetings that I have to schedule for next week can only be held during times that I would normally would use to support kids.
I think that I have to start taking the time to read every email in detail before I file them away.
I will be held accountable for this decision.
So many moments of ‘catching up’ today on conversations that have been in motion for several months.
words keep wolves at bay 