First Day of School

My first day of school was uneventful because I had already completed the required training and so was given "fillers" to occupy my time at the high school. Tomorrow, I will be at my junior high and be able to get work done between sessions. Those sessions are usually more relevant than the ones at the high school anyway.

The state-of-the-district address was amusing because so many administrators are taking off. A consulting firm is taking over for the Director of Special Ed, who got the job in Shaler. The elementary principal, Mister Stephans, is at the high school as interim principal since he was an assistant there previously. The moved our assistant, Mr. Hadley, back to elementary principal. Mr. Szarmach will cover for one of the high school assistants, while they look for a second, although they probably have to find another interim superintendent since Dr. Rossi is leaving. Mr. Gray welcomed back all the teachers and "administrators who couldn't find employment elsewhere" in his address, which was hilarious. Mr. Fishell followed that with saying he'd make his address quick since he has an interview at 11 with Penn-Trafford, which was funny.

It was all much better than Diversity training. The professor is very smart and acknowledged all kinds of biases, but nevertheless focussed on the black/white racial issue, even when other factors could have been in play. He once wasn't hired for a job because he didn't have the right experience and couldn't get the experience unless they gave him the job. He feels it was because he was black. Another woman waited for another elevator instead of getting on alone with him because he was black, even though I know women who don't get on elevators alone with strange men of any race. One white woman even said she would try harder to get on with a black man because he might make a big deal about it.

Then technology training for iPads and Smart boards, neither of which I get, took 1 hour instead of 2.5 hours. It was another session that some people got to miss like Diversity for ALICE training. Although I didn't like two filler sessions today, I liked them better than ALICE at least.

Fortunately, my girls loved their first day of school. Emily and Sarah have teachers they had before and Claire has a teacher that knows her well too. It should be a great (last) year for them at St. Bonaventure.