This was my going away gift I left Pontotoc Elementary School. Our school will be getting a new office over the summer and I thought that a piece of art would make it feel more like home, and this quote was so true of how I feel about my school. This canvas was a 4'x 2' canvas and I could have put it on a wall size canvas...because I love that place so much.
Next year, I will be going to school rather than teaching. Shocking, I know. It was a long prayerful process, but I know that God really directed me toward this program and brought me to it, so I have faith that this next year he will bring me through it.
In November I took the GRE. I didn't tell many folks and kept this entire process to my family. In February I submitted three essays about leadership in relation to different aspects and really just prayed that they were what they needed to be. In March I was told that I got approved for the interview round of selection. On a Monday morning I made my way to Oxford and sat in a panel interview with Mr. Barksdale himself, along with a doctoral student, the program director, and the provost.
The Saturday night Spring Break began, with a dinner under the stars, I checked my email and received my letter of acceptance.
Instantly I was beside myself. I was honored and ecstatic...and scared.
Scared to tell my very best friend that I have gone through every stage of my career with, scared to think I will not be in a class of children next year, scared to leave my comfort zone...my friends, Mrs. Bridget or as I call her B, my teaching partner. The Principal Corps is a program that is funded completely by the Barksdale Family. I will move on campus in June. I will live with a roommate in the Residential College. I will take six hours this summer. I will move home in July and begin my internship for the fall two weeks before school starts. My internship is still up in the air. I will find out July 1st where I will be placed. Through next year I will be a principal intern by day and a college student by night. I will take 9 hours in the fall as well as 9 hours in the spring. I will stay at my internship two weeks after school is out and then begin my final round of classes, living back on campus for six more hours. When I finish I will have a Specialist in Educational Leadership.
There are several perks to this program, yes I will make a sacrifice...but the pay off has potential to be GREAT.
-This degree is completely paid for...my books, my classes, my food.
-The cohort (people who have been selected along with me) is small. We will have a lot of individualized instruction.
-My current teaching position will be available to me when I finish the program. I will be able to go back to Second Grade in my building, with my friends....in my comfort zone.
-If I obtain a principal job or assistant principal job within two years of completion of this program-the Barksdales give a generous signing bonus. One that if I get...I have a lot of plans for...
-I am paid while I am in school..the state has a sabbatical fund that I will be paid from. It will be a smaller salary than I am getting now...no National Board pay...but still I am fortunate for a great degree...for free.
While I look at the perks and tell myself these are things I am blessed to be offered, there are so many things and people I will miss.
-I will miss working with these friends...and more that didn't make this photo. These women are bright spots in my day.
- I will miss walking down this hall each morning as it is lined with kids and feeling sometimes like a run way model as the little girls would ooohh and ahhh over my high heels, or sometimes the feeling like your famous around October when the students in other classes have learned your name and they want you to see them waving at you in the morning.
-I will miss my classroom. Yes, this looks like a bomb went off in here, but guess what- I will miss it and the faces that fill it.
-I will miss our janitor----haha this is actually our principal, and I will miss working for such a great leader. I have always been thankful for having the opportunity to work in the Pontotoc City Schools, but part of my gratitude is due to being able to work for and with such wonderful people. Mr. Chism greets the students and teachers every morning with a smile on and kind word. I will miss working with such an easy going leader. I love to joke around, I love to pull pranks, and love that our school is place where good natured fun is allowed...trust me- I've worked where it wasn't allowed.
- I will miss this dessert. This is actually a dessert that was made when I worked in Tupelo...it was like a piece of Heaven on Earth. I am not a chocolate fan- but oh dear Lord this is wonderful...well my first year in Pontotoc they served fruit all the time...really for dessert...so when we got a new cafeteria manager I asked her about it...and what did she do...she found the recipe...she then made it and called it "Felicia's Dessert." Not only does it have my name...she also would make really full containers of it and keep them held back for me...The picture above looks like a small amount...this was actually held back from the day before so I could enjoy it two days in a row...now that is LOVE
3 comments:
Congrats to you!! That is awesome!! Will be praying for you and this new fun journey!
Congrats! That is so exciting! You're going to do great!
I am, of course, proud of you in all that you do, but the Principal Corps is indeed an honor and an opportunity. I'm confident you shall excell, even enjoy your new environment. Congratulations!
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