This weekend was a lot of fun celebrating our first anniversary! On Friday, we met up with teacher friends and Mary and John for drinks and appetizers. Saturday, we went to dinner at the Chart House in Genesee. Sunday we went to see the new James Bond movie and then Wade made chicken parmigiana for dinner. Deeeeeelish!
We have a short week at school (Monday and Tuesday) and then we're off for Thanksgiving break. Looking forward to a little quiet before the insanity of finals begins!
Anne Marie & Wade
Sunday, November 23, 2008
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Election Results
I can't really explain how I am feeling today. I'm elated, satisfied to finally be on the winning team, reflective that I was a part of such an historic moment in our country during this presidential election. And yet....
TOTALLY DISAPPOINTED that the bond/mil levy for our public schools and library did not pass! What? We live in one of the top 10 richest counties in the nation, where the average home price is over $300,000, and people were so concerned about higher taxes that they voted no? The land for the new library in Parker was donated, so most of the money would have gone to materials and buildings. Wade hates going to the library because the parking lot is the size of a postage stamp and all those Douglas County mommies drive HUGE SUVs that barely fit.
It makes me sick to my stomach to think of the school budget cuts that will come and the "raises" that will not. You see, in education, we don't get 'end of the year bonuses' or trips or dinners or cruises or much of anything when we meet our goals of having students succeed. It's what is expected. I got an e-mail from a mom last week that ended by thanking me for taking the extra time with her son so he passes Spanish. She said she "really appreciated it." Seriously? Because almost 60,000 people voted against the measures. Maybe I am taking this too personally, and it is about a systems change etc. But, I feel deep down in my gut, very let down by the parents we "serve." It is fair to say I feel very low on the job satisfaction scale today. Making it harder to do my job with budget constraints isn't much of a motivator for me to do better.
TOTALLY DISAPPOINTED that the bond/mil levy for our public schools and library did not pass! What? We live in one of the top 10 richest counties in the nation, where the average home price is over $300,000, and people were so concerned about higher taxes that they voted no? The land for the new library in Parker was donated, so most of the money would have gone to materials and buildings. Wade hates going to the library because the parking lot is the size of a postage stamp and all those Douglas County mommies drive HUGE SUVs that barely fit.
It makes me sick to my stomach to think of the school budget cuts that will come and the "raises" that will not. You see, in education, we don't get 'end of the year bonuses' or trips or dinners or cruises or much of anything when we meet our goals of having students succeed. It's what is expected. I got an e-mail from a mom last week that ended by thanking me for taking the extra time with her son so he passes Spanish. She said she "really appreciated it." Seriously? Because almost 60,000 people voted against the measures. Maybe I am taking this too personally, and it is about a systems change etc. But, I feel deep down in my gut, very let down by the parents we "serve." It is fair to say I feel very low on the job satisfaction scale today. Making it harder to do my job with budget constraints isn't much of a motivator for me to do better.
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Did you make history today?
I am looking forward to going home, eating delicious green chile, and watching the results come in!
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