Are You Ready for Some FOOTBALL?

I'm not really sure this post belongs on a technology blog, but maybe. It's a story about our staff. We are not unlike other educators across the state of South Dakota. Under paid, SD still ranks last in the nation in teacher pay, over scheduled, most of our teachers have 6 preps, and on top of it all our school building was condemed about 5 years ago-leaving us in less than an ideal learning environment. To say on occasion staff moral is low is perhaps as gross an understatement is kind of like saying Michael Phelps can swim a little.

Anyway, on with the story. I'm a football fanatic. I have no better way to put it and each year I sign up to participate in a Fantasy Football League. Usually, with people from all over the country, none of who I know, nor do I have a desire to get to know. This year however, I took a chance and set up my own league online--Free of course (a teachers best freind), and invited fellow staff members to join. In the beginning response was slow the Science Sloths were the first on board followed by the K Shoe Crew (Math Dept.) then, just like kids with a homework deadline as the draft deadline neared, (just hours remaining) I began seeing the league fill up. By draft deadline The Longhorn Lovers league was completely full.

The Wednesday morning after the draft was electric. Now, I know some people might say this sounds about as educational as a field trip to Dairy Queen, but I beg to differ. This is a staff that just a few short years ago struggled with sending a simple email attachment. A staff that due to our current facility arrangements seldom sees each other. A staff that on a lot of days doesn't have a lot of highlights. And, here we are, laughing, emailing, drafting, trading, and smiling about our prosepects.

It's Time

It's back to the grindstone. Yikes--So hard to believe that the summer has went by so quickly. My daughter, who is somewht dreading the return to school, said "Just when you get summer broke in it's over!"

I think this is somewhat how teachers feel when it comes to integrating technology. What I hear constantly from staff is "How come just when I learn how to (insert whatever new technology or software your school is focusing on) does it change, and now I'm supposed to learn something new". Well, my response to this is "get used to it," just like the summer that is fading, technology and software change like the seasons.

Me, I love the changing of the seasons, that first cool night when you wake to frost, the first snowflakes, first optomistic meadowlark, first butterfly, and the painting of the leaves. I love it, what a beautiful diverse world. And, such is the marriage of technology and education, ever changing but always enchanting.