So, Tuesday morning I will begin my Professional Development for teaching full year at the Virtual Academy. I have labored over this decision since school begin for us in early September. I feel like I am abandoning "my" students that I have worked with for multiple years. I have been in one of my schools since 2005 and the other since 2010. It feels like a loss in so many ways. It came down to the feeling that I really didn't have a choice to make. I am 65 years old, have a husband with health issues on disability and a daughter who is pregnant with our first grandchild. I've felt committed, then anxious, then undecided and unsure every step of the way to this point. Ultimately, with no guarantees, I felt I needed to chose working virtually from home. I know I can do this and I know I will give 100% to the endeavor. My plan is to rock it with success!
The down size, supplies not being available to students and limiting how I can present lessons. I will miss having hands that are caked with clay and watching as my students gleefully create and explore with a lump of clay. I will miss students that I adore and admire for their creative energies and enthusiasm. Maybe, next August, I will be able to walk back into my spaces and greet them in person. I can hope for that reality. Until then, I will work to build new relationships with new talented kids who bring me pride, laughter and smiles and rest assured, I will feel just as torn at the end of the year knowing they will be going back to a new normal and I might not be able to tag along.
