It looks like Michael is in a new school in AZ. Read on:
Hey PLC members –
I was very novice at using CI until NTPRS 2012 in Las Vegas. After that summer I began an intense change of incorporating TPRS. I took huge risks everyday and would like to think I had huge successes in exchange. I went on teaching with CI with my 170+ students in the classroom and for the first time in 10 years of teaching, signed up for teaching every summer just to get to do more TPRS for 5 hours a day.
During these years one of my colleagues that joined me in Vegas and later in San Diego would come observe my classes and would ask tons of questions. At his own pace, he developed his CI skills…he is awesome! He eventually became frustrated with the politics of our large school and left for a much better job at a smaller private school. He walked away from a very successful 10-year career in one place. I actually thought he was crazy and should have swallowed his pride and stayed put …but nonetheless I supported him.
This year, at his new school, he has had GREAT success. He introduced TPRS to the new school and has created significant change. I even had an invitation to serve them as a TPRS trainer back in January. His school that included a lower, middle, and upper school is adapting and adopting TPRS. He was so successful at all this that they asked him to serve next school year as the Foreign Language Department chair. Recently, the school has even offered me a position and I have decided to accept.
The point of my story is that the little things that we do make a difference. Putting time into training teachers and being patient with students is a long-term project. If teachers are brave enough to make changes and seek the unknown the pay off for doing it can be significant.
Like Ben and Laurie shared this was networking that I didn’t foresee or plan for but paid off. The networking and willingness to share and stay positive was a great return for me in regards to working conditions, salary, class sizes, admin support, and handful of other mental health factors that I can’t wait to enjoy.
Years ago Jason Fritze made a comment to me about “being the change you want to see.” I think that is what it is all about.