Cover Is Blown

(one of two girls doing their homework in a nearby fast food place--cropped to hide names and faces)

The faculty meeting went off as scheduled. Principal Hula (formerly known as Mr. New) was true to his word. He took the questions from the staff and answered them. Many of his answers were the kind a politician would give, but they were answers nevertheless. He said he really cared about what we thought and wanted and he wanted to be the kind of leader that helps. He sounded sincere, and, I can't believe I am writing this but, I actually like him. I know we are still in the honeymoon period and it is natural for things to get a bit rocky when we move to the next stage of our relationship but, I LIKE THIS GUY!!!! I think I can even work with him. I had no desire to read a book, listen to my I-pod or ring my cell phone non stop. Now, liking is not the same as trusting. He is still an administrator and an administrator's agenda can be total opposite of that of a teacher's. My trust is something that is not given in a day, a week or even a year.

Waiting for the meeting to start, one teacher comment on Principal Hula's shirt and suggested that we take a picture and mail it to ex-Principal Suit. Hula saw me taking the picture and came over to ask me if I was taking it for this blog. My cover is blown! My face turned the brightest red. He knows my feelings about Suit and Mr. AP and all the other things that drive me crazy in this place. He told me to talk to him about any issues I have. He already stopped the announcements and lowered the music on my request. I'm going to be careful. I'm considering making this an invited only blog or starting a new one. Or, maybe I will just quit writing.

Mr. Hula doesn't want or need my advice but, since I am older, more experienced and have one foot out the door, I am going to give it here:

1. Respect your staff, the entire staff. Everyone here performs a valuable service, from the custodian to the kitchen lady, to the school aides, to the paras, to the security staff, to the teacher, to the assistant principals. You can catch more flies with honey than vinegar. Suit never got this and as a result, many people, including myself, stopped doing as much as we used to do.

2. Listen and consider what people have to say to you. You are the boss and all final decisons are yours. Some of us have valuable ideas. Just consider them and if you reject these ideas do it based on intelligent reason, not on ego. Suit never got this either and as a result many of the programs he started did not work.

This blog was started to get out the frustrations caused by Suit's faiure to follow these simple premises. I needed an outlet and got one here.

As of today, nothing negative will be written about Packemin HS, at least not on this blog. Sorry, it is about to become very boring. Anyone who has been following it and would like the dirt is welcome to become an invited reader on my new blog, Packemin HS, the Blog.