Today, the academic year draws to a close and with it, a chapter of my career.
In 2011, when my attempt to become a full-time freelance writer proved challenging, it was time for another chapter. Throughout my editorial career, people said I had a good way with talent and employees and that I should consider teaching. The time had come to put that into action.
I earned my MS in Education in 2012 and a teaching certification. We decided to relocate closer to Kate and begin teaching in 2013, and I was fortunate to win a spot at Owings Mills High School. I deeply enjoyed my fellow English faculty, complete with pranks and social bonding. I took over the journalism program, which allowed me to spend a wonderful week in Austin to train for the role. I enjoyed moving the newspaper to a digital platform and working with eager students. I even went on to obtain a second master’s in Creative Writing and Literature for Educators, two more than I ever imagined having when I worked in publishing.
In fall 2016, I began subbing at St. Vincent Pallotti High School, and it evolved into a full-time role. At first, I had the sophomores and juniors, which was fun, mixing American Lit and British Lit, but I was then handed the honors freshmen, which was exciting as I molded them into motivated Pallotti Panthers. We tried journalism for one year, but enrollment didn’t support continuation, which was very disappointing. I did, though, get the yearbook these last two years, and that was a creative experience.
And it wasn’t only in the classroom. I took over running the annual Coffeehouse, effectively the school’s talent show, which allowed everyone to see many students in a new light as they blossomed in the spotlight. I was also class moderator, the faculty member working with the student government, and planning activities and training the leaders on how to lead was very rewarding.
All that ends as I shift into retirement. I do so feeling the time is right, now that I have seen how happy Deb has been in her first year as a retiree. We’re young enough and healthy enough to enjoy the strenuous travel we have talked about doing. I still have my adjunct role at the Maryland Institute College of Art.
I leave high school satisfied I brought my best to the classroom every day, earning a rep as a hard grader, so those who excelled know they earned it. I also tried to keep the lessons fresh and relevant, constantly revising lessons and units to accommodate the needs and interests of my students.
I leave still thinking about things I could have done better, content I wanted to try, and how my recent graduates will fare in these turbulent times.
There are writing projects I want to pursue, both fiction and nonfiction, and I want to take the extra time to improve my craft. The To Be Read pile beckons as do the movies I’ve never seen before. I suspect I will be far from idle.
There’s much I will miss, but so much more I want to still do, so the timing feels right.
#Tags: MICA, Owings Mills High School, St. Vincent Pallotti High School