Finding your "person" on campus...

Just like in Grey's Anatomy, I'm a fan of finding your "person". Just as Meredith and Christina on the show, I think having someone that is your "person" in your office, school or operating room is vital to survival. 

Early last year, I met a new teacher on campus that had a love of life, travel, students and humor. Somehow, we just clicked and the more we laughed together, the more we understood eachother as teachers, and became friends. At some point we had the "we should take a vacation together" convo. Amazingly, we followed through with our plan and settled on a quick nonstop flight to Seattle. Deciding to clear our calendars the beginning of Thanksgiving break, we booked our flights and hotel. I had never been to Seattle, although it's my dad's favorite city.  

We had the best time! We had no real set plans but both got up each morning ready to eat and walk out way through the town. We found the most amazing stores and cafés. We talked about school, history (she's a history buff), politics, life, family and everything in between. It was the type of trip that felt so effortless... I think it's because we just meshed, even though her dinner time conversation was enough to make me blush. 

The amount of sewing we discussed and cheese we consumed would be considered disturbing by most. But the lady at the cheese counter at DiLaurenti's didn't seem to mind our constant tasting requests? She kept asking us to stay longer, other customers even asked our opinions. We probably could work there now with all our experience lol. We also stumbled on a few great bookstores. We spent hours wandering (almost aimlessly) looking at the next books to add to our collections. We also cosumed some amazingly delicious food! For reals, some of the best food places ever! The Crumpet Shop, The Biscuit Bitch, Lowell's, La Spiga, Cupcake Royale... All amazing! 

All in all, it was a great trip! I can't wait to go back! But I think a lot of why the trip was great, was due to the crazy teachin' lady I went with. 

Most Ag teachers learn early on to find people on campus who understand us to befriend. Many are other Ag teachers, for those of us lucky enough to teacher in a 2+ person department. It's evident which departments in the state employ Ag teachers who genuinely like eachother  and seem to work as if they're all well oiled machines. It's because these teachers, unknowingly have found their person. There are always exceptions to the rule, but I feel like if we really looked at Ag departments that are successful, we'd find people that have the similar values, likes, dislikes, family/parenting styles, and even favorite foods. It's one of the best feelings, to have a good or bad day at school and be able to walk into another's classroom and tell them about it and have them understand. Find your person on campus... Take a vaykay!

Beginning our first day as tourists...

Just a little harbor tour... 

Every place does coffee art, this was my favorite!

Space Needle from the glass museum...

Back to School!

Today was my first day back to school!! Year 5 has begun!

I can officially say I am so excited to be back and with my kiddos. This summer went waaaaaay to quick but luckily I kinda dig my job so it's not a huge deal to be back. I could have used another day or two to prep my room and get things exactly how I wanted but oh well... It looks pretty good and I was able to change up quite a bit this summer so it's new and different (in a good way, I promise).

Last week I was fortunate enough to attend a staff retreat...
SAY WHAT?!?!

Yep! My high school admin take us hooligan teachers away for two days and we go through the year, have some professional development, reflect on last year and sit around and "chat" after dinner. We actually play some pretty intense games of Catch Phrase and Corn Hole. I remember last year how nice it was to meet everyone in a relaxed capacity before starting the school year. It was such a good way to get everything situated and feel like you could run to that kooky English teacher if you needed help in the first few days of school because of the time you spent at the retreat.

Something that always gets to me is the other teacher's summer stories (not just at this school). Teachers ramble about how they spent time here, and traveled there and blah blah blah... My favorite thing is when they ask what I did all summer. Ummmmm my response usually involves being at a fair. This summer it included three fairs in July and August. Some teachers are actually appalled that I didn't spend the summer tanning, traveling, surfing (we have a lot of surfers) or some other random summer activity. But instead.... wait for it.... I saw students!!!! Oh no! How could I?! What was I thinking?!

My summers are not quite as relaxing as others and I rarely travel to far away places but I like my low-key, fair-filled, hot as hell summers. They aren't too bad... This summer I got to spend a lot of time with my mom, which was really nice since she isn't working right now.

Summers are different for everyone...
I really like to read, sleep in, go to fairs and see friends (at least I try)...

Maybe someday I'll tan... But probably not because my pasty butt burns...
Maybe someday I'll travel... Well hopefully!
Maybe someday I'll surf... Hahaha maybe not!

For now... I'll be glad that I'm back in school, as the next two months are actually the most calm for my schedule.

Happy Back to School!!!!

Oh how I've missed high school kids! 

Summer Conference

Meetings, food, familiar faces and more meetings... This may not sound like the ultimate fun bus but if you happen to be an Ag teacher, this may sound pretty similar to our CATA Summer Conference. 

For me, it's my favorite trip ALL frickin year... Mostly because I live in the North Coast Region and that means I live about 300+ miles from my credential class peeps (yeah we're still friends and hangout). While I'm not a huge fan of driving to Cal Poly to see my Fresno State friends, I'll do just about anything to see these amazing people. In all seriousness, at the conference, we attend professional sessions learning how we can do more as Ag teachers. 

The trend in Ag Education seems to focus on how we can maintain profession sustainability while planning for the future.  How can we continue to plow (haha pun intended) through the education hold ups and politics to reach kids and make a difference? What else can we fit in to a 24 hour period to go big, both for ourselves and our students? How can we serve others? How can we collaborate to work together and work smarter not harder? 

Fortunately, I was able to be part of a program this year to figure out how we are going to plan for our profession in the year 2030. It was a really great experience, meeting with teachers of all levels of experience, from all over the state. It's interesting to see how we separately have individual wants and needs and expectations but as a whole those desires become so similar and uniform. During conference today, there were reports of the 2030 group and how we have progressed towards goals set back in December. We also did an instant survey after the report with results projected. The results were kind of surprising to me. The 2030 group looked at four main areas: Curriculum, Mentoring, SAE and Funding. One of the questions of the survey asked if there are issues in our profession that are not being addressed by those four areas. There were numerous live result answers that included "leadership" "working together" and "ethics". Here we are sitting in a conference put on by Ag teachers for Ag teachers in a professional manner encouraging others to do more in the profession and people are questioning leadership, teamwork and ethics?! What the heck? 

I feel like this conference is the epitome of leadership and teamwork and by attending the conference you're kind of setting stage for the whole year as an Ag teacher. What could be important to impact our profession in a state wide capacity? I have always felt that by attending conference, I'm working to take a leadership role. Not only for myself, my section and my region but also my students. If I'm not willing to put myself out there and try new things and do more in a leadership capacity, why should they ever try? What type of role model and what message am I sending to them if I don't? My favorite part of the conference is the camaraderie among Ag teachers. Everyone sticks together, whether it's by the alumni lunch you attend or the regional meeting you sit in-- there's a spot for everyone. 

I've had the luxury of teaching in three different regions. From student teaching, to a year of long-term subbing to my current position. I think this has profoundly impacted the type of experience I have a conference.  I feel like I know more people than I can even say hello to in a day. I try to stop and chat with as many as possible but there's not enough time. I think that's what our profession needs more of. Time to sit around and hang out with other people, who do the same thing, know what we are going through and who can empathize with the amount of work that we put in for our students. 

I love sitting and catching up with the girls that I went through the credential program with.  People probably think we're a little nutty because we still see each other, hang out, talk, eat lunch and dinner together, go to the bar together and whatnot.  But we developed bonds during student teaching and the credential program. We all understood that we were there for each other and we know that we are always still just a phone call away. 

Our guest speaker today made a statement about how if you don't love it or if you want to complain about it then get out. She was referring to our profession.  And I couldn't agree more with her. The people who are negative or complain about everything that we do suck the life out of everyone... Don't be a Debbie Downer or Negative Nancy! 

We have a great profession that provides great opportunities and we need to appreciate that more on a daily basis!! 

Just in case you didn't know: