| Decisions, decisions | for everyone |
Given the time lag since I first posted, it was probably obvious that I've decided to pass on the "opportunity" (to be appointed temporarily and then run for a seat on the Junior College District Board of Trustees) for a variety of reasons.
As I've previously noted, my focus has narrowed over the years. I started my career trying to save the world (in general, and education, in particular -- it was a Child of the '60s thing), refocused to the district of Hancock Place, refocused again to Hancock High School, refocused again to the students with whom I dealt daily (or at least regularly), refocused again, well, you get the picture. To broaden that focus to being at least partly responsible for over 5000 employees and probably at least four times that many students would represent a 540° turn (and I get dizzy so easily any more!).
Second, not only has my focused shifted, but my priorities have changed. I don't spend much time looking backward or regretting "the stumbles and falls [that] brought me here" (Ben Folds, I Am the Luckiest), but I recognize that my priorities were misplaced when I was more ambitious. That may be too strong, but I've come to realize that it wasn't really a good thing when my daughter's first complete sentence was, "Daddy's at a meeting." I appreciate time more and want to spend as much of it as I can with those I love. Meetings don't really fit in with that objective.
Third, because I figure I have at least another year left in me at Schechter (officially renamed, as of 1/1/12, the Saul Mirowitz Jewish Community School -- I'm guessing it will be shorted to JCS) and because I expect we won't be in "coast mode" trying to create an effective school culture that will require significant energy in assimilation and integration, to say nothing of the mundane demands for academic excellence, I don't anticipate much in the way of free time to devote to the JCD. (I am convinced that we will soon need to add letters to the alphabet to accommodate the ever-increasing demands for acronyms.)
Finally, I was pretty much operating on fumes by the time softball ended. My body will tell me when I can't do that any more (the evidence will be some kind of smashed face or broken bone because I can't avoid a thrown or batted ball -- I've already conceded to using a screen to throw BP -- too many close calls even off the JV bats) and every time I think I might be ready to stop teaching, the stock market convinces me how terrible an idea that is! Of course, that may never change, or at least not for a long while. But that's a topic for another day.
In short (also not a strength and certainly not on the campaign trail), no need to start looking for yard signs emblazoned with my name any time soon. Still, it was nice to be considered.
As I've previously noted, my focus has narrowed over the years. I started my career trying to save the world (in general, and education, in particular -- it was a Child of the '60s thing), refocused to the district of Hancock Place, refocused again to Hancock High School, refocused again to the students with whom I dealt daily (or at least regularly), refocused again, well, you get the picture. To broaden that focus to being at least partly responsible for over 5000 employees and probably at least four times that many students would represent a 540° turn (and I get dizzy so easily any more!).
Second, not only has my focused shifted, but my priorities have changed. I don't spend much time looking backward or regretting "the stumbles and falls [that] brought me here" (Ben Folds, I Am the Luckiest), but I recognize that my priorities were misplaced when I was more ambitious. That may be too strong, but I've come to realize that it wasn't really a good thing when my daughter's first complete sentence was, "Daddy's at a meeting." I appreciate time more and want to spend as much of it as I can with those I love. Meetings don't really fit in with that objective.
Third, because I figure I have at least another year left in me at Schechter (officially renamed, as of 1/1/12, the Saul Mirowitz Jewish Community School -- I'm guessing it will be shorted to JCS) and because I expect we won't be in "coast mode" trying to create an effective school culture that will require significant energy in assimilation and integration, to say nothing of the mundane demands for academic excellence, I don't anticipate much in the way of free time to devote to the JCD. (I am convinced that we will soon need to add letters to the alphabet to accommodate the ever-increasing demands for acronyms.)
Finally, I was pretty much operating on fumes by the time softball ended. My body will tell me when I can't do that any more (the evidence will be some kind of smashed face or broken bone because I can't avoid a thrown or batted ball -- I've already conceded to using a screen to throw BP -- too many close calls even off the JV bats) and every time I think I might be ready to stop teaching, the stock market convinces me how terrible an idea that is! Of course, that may never change, or at least not for a long while. But that's a topic for another day.
In short (also not a strength and certainly not on the campaign trail), no need to start looking for yard signs emblazoned with my name any time soon. Still, it was nice to be considered.
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