Starting Over

Before I update this blog for the first time in TWO YEARS (in my defense, I updated this blog last spring), I have to thank my Twitter friends over at #pypchat for motivating me, inspiring me and pushing me to be better. If it weren't for you, I wouldn't be posting today...

For the past 4 years, I have worked as the PYP Coordinator at College View Elementary in Council Bluffs, IA. It's almost scary to think about how much I didn't know when I got started. I had read a little about IB, thought it sounded like something that would mesh with my beliefs about teaching and learning and always enjoyed leadership roles; so I applied and got the job! I worked hard to educate myself about IB and worked with the amazing staff at College View to develop the program.

But the IB coordinator position has always been only half of my job. Throughout the years I worked as a literacy interventionist and classroom reduction teacher during my other half. As much as I tried to balance the two positions, it was tough. Teaching students took up a good chunk of that half of my day, but I also had to think about planning, reflecting, progress monitoring, intervention meetings, conferences, etc.. Inevitably, the literacy portion of my day ended up occupying more of my time than IB.

Last winter, our district decided to move forward with another PYP school at the opposite end of town. While I took part in the feasibility study for this school, when the discussion about hiring a PYP Coordinator came up, I didn't even consider that person being me. I kept thinking about how, if one person took on the role of coordinator at both buildings, they would be responsible for EIGHTY units of inquiry (preK-5) and TWO exhibitions each year. No thank you.

The position for coordinator at Carter Lake Elementary was posted and I didn't apply....but I couldn't stop thinking about the "what ifs". What if they don't get any applicants? What if they hire the wrong person? What if the right person for the job is me??? I pondered those questions in my mind for a while, but I still didn't apply. A few weeks after the position was posted, I got an email from our superintendent, asking me some questions about the position. In my response, I let her know the "what ifs" floating around in my head. I let her know that the biggest concern I had was wanting what's best for BOTH programs. Her response solidified my decision to apply: "This could be good for Carter Lake and College View. And very good for CBCSD (our district) and even for Erin."

You know what? She was right! I am now the coordinator of BOTH programs, splitting my time 50/50. What I love best is that it's 100% IB! The single focus has really helped move the programs at both schools forward. I'm able to take things that we did really well and things I wish we had done differently at College View and share them with Carter Lake. I've also been able to look at our program at College View through a fresh lens. There are things we were on top of at the beginning of our journey with IB that we need to revisit 5 years in.

I'm so glad I was a risk-taker and decided to tackle coordinating both programs. Yes, eighty units of inquiry, sixty plus teachers, two administrators, and two exhibitions is a lot; but it turns out it's what's best for Erin and I'll work tirelessly to make sure it's what's best for Carter Lake, College View and CBCSD.