SMS Principal Blog

"The new year stands before us, like a chapter in a book, waiting to be written. We can help write that story by setting goals." -Melody Beattie Here we are at the end of my first year as the principal of Sullivan Middle School, and it seems impossible that the entire year has passed so quickly. It seems like only yesterday you all were saving my bacon by making our tropical-themed opening day run smoothly and on-time in spite of my best efforts to screw it up by starting late and unorganized. From my point-of-view, that is how most of the year went. No matter what was thrown at this faculty and staff, you found a way to work together and figure out how to keep things moving smoothly for our students. I hope someday they are able to appreciate how amazing their middle school years were because of how dedicated and passionate their teachers were every step of the way.  As much as I enjoyed every day of my first year, I know that the closing of this chapter means it

"Of all the hard jobs around, one of the hardest is being a good teacher." -Maggie Gallagher This quote is absolutely true. I don't know about all of you, but I've had a lot of jobs. I didn't become a teacher until my mid-20's, so I had to fill some time working in a factory, being an elementary custodian, detailing cars, detailing tractors and combines, and even doing a tour in combat. None of those experiences challenged me in the way being a teacher did. People in other careers talk about leaving things at work, but teachers don't get that luxury. When you are not literally taking your work home with you, you are carrying the burden of worry about your students who are going home to an empty house or a house that would perhaps be better if it were empty, who are taking care of siblings far more than they should be, who are worrying about where dinner is going to come from or if it will come at all, who are struggling to keep up and you can't