On the way out of a school, there is the stress of constantly second guessing yourself as you prepare the files for someone new. I have asked myself a thousand times since March of this year, "was that the right decision? Could I have done that better?" These questions have come to the forefront of my mind not just because I hope that I did the best I could for the school in my short time there, but because I have been mentoring the person who will be taking my place. In the mentorship process, the questions from an outsider have been pointed, thorough and well intended. On the otherhand they also lacked the perspective of an experienced administrator - something I tried to remind myself as I felt emotion creeping into my throat after about the tenth "Why do you do it that way when you could just____ (fill in the blank)?"
So today I handed over the last few details to the new principal who will begin on July 1st. I have a huge sense of relief, but I also am a bit sad to say goodbye to a beautiful school community of which I just could not make the commute to any longer. I have been waiting for this day for months... imagining that I would be able to do a load of fun personal things with my kids, but as the time at one school has come to an end I have been busy transitioning with my new school, picking up tasks here and there that I probably don't have to volunteer for, but I am because it is the right thing to do and because it is helping me get to know "the way things really work." And as I have been slowly moving my rainboots from one pond to another, I cannot stop thinking about the school year to come.
I am thinking about Catholic Identity at my new school and how to best present that to the faculty & staff, and how to be sure not to sound too preachy, but to get the message across with a zip to the heart... I want to light the flame of passion (zeal) that I have for Catholic education in the hearts of others, and I want it to be contagious. I am gathering resources that I think I can share with the teachers, collecting a list of my favorite prayers to use through the year, lesson planning (because I will be teaching a few classes), and getting excited about growing & stretching myself professionally in a new way.
So yes, I am a bit disappointed that I won't have the time I thought I would in July, but I am also finding that the passion I have for my ministry in Catholic Education is still alive and well after 15 years! School starts in six weeks, teachers report in five and new teacher orientations begin in four. Wow! It will be here before we know it... and I am excited to spend the next few weeks preparing myself for all of it.
God Bless & Be Thankful!
Crystal
