I will retire from daily teaching in two years. It is amazing to think about the end of a career that I've devoted my life to for 34 years so far. Fortunately, the last few years have been the very best years of my teaching career--I work with a dynamic team of teachers in a top-notch school with fair, intelligent leadership at the school, system, union, and state levels. Together, we are doing a great job--this is exactly how I want to end my career.
With two years left, I want to focus in mostly on my students, their families, and my grade-level team. I'll express my thoughts about greater school, system, state, and national issues and work for positive change where needed, but, in general, most of my time will be spent caring for and teaching the children within my charge.
Years ago, a colleague retired with grace. That colleague did just what I hope to do--she focused on ending her career with her best possible service to students and grade-level colleagues, and then when she retired, she embraced interests and work in other areas of life. That's what I hope to do. I think I'll make the first few months of my retirement simply time to catch up on a number of life's chores and events that are difficult to keep up with while working full time, and then I'll likely find a way to work with individual or small groups of children in need. I truly love helping out children in need and imagine myself working in a homeless shelter or social need agency in that capacity part time. I like helping children in need because I know that if these children get the help they need, they will understand that they can build good lives for themselves and their loved ones later on.
Having a good focus for where you are at in your career is essential. Years ago, my focus was directed towards lots of professional learning and focus on changing many of the structures, tools, and practices we used at school. I wanted school to look a lot more like it looks today than the old ways. Many good changes have occurred and this has made my final years of teaching so much better. I am happy about this. Now it's time to stay the course set and do the best I can. Onward.
