With a little help...

Last Thursday, I stayed at school until 10:45 PM at night. After a full day of PD, I went to Home Depot and bought paint supplies. I debated whether it was worth the money and time to paint a classroom wall, because there were so many other things to be done such as lesson planning, setting up a digital portfolio, or setting up the classroom. In the end, trying something new (even as seemingly monotonous as painting a wall) proved to be valuable in itself.

Setting up painter's tape around the bulletin boards and four sides of the wall took a very long time. And having only a ladder and radio to assist, sun was already setting when laying down the tape was almost finished. I took a much needed break with a couple coworkers, principal, and pizza and soda. At 8:15, it was pitch black outside and a wall still needed to be painted. At 9:00, coworkers left. At 10 PM, the principal walked in and said she was going to call it a night. I was about half done with the wall and wanted to finish it. I said, maybe I'll stay for another 30 minutes.

Then the principal asked, "Do you need help?"

I was already exhausted at this point, from sleep deprivation, mental exhaustion, and from being at school for at least 12 hours. But she was the principal! She clearly has a lot on her plate already, having stayed at school til late often, after many teachers have left. I didn't want to burden her with my desire for a more pleasing purple wall.

"No it's okay! I can do it."

"No, really, I'm tired of staring at the computer looking at budgets."

"Um......" (I'm really tired and would have wanted help from anyone at this point.)

"Do you have a second roller?" (She's already rolling up her sleeves)

"Um... yes, right here. Thank you so much. I really really appreciate it."

The sheer idea of a principal to stay really late at school, after a full day, to help a teacher paint a wall was just unfathomable to me. I was used to seeing administrators spend less time at school than teachers at my old school. And certainly none of them would have bothered to help a teacher set up a classroom.

We finished the rest of the wall in the next 40 minutes. It was DONE. We were the last to leave, and she managed to make it the next morning to the optional Zumba class at 7 AM at school (taught by another coworker) - when I couldn't, even though I wanted to try it too.

I'm still in awe of the fact that where my new school is still seems too good to be true.

Despite the late night, I am starting to truly understand how dedicated people can be for education. It's empowering and uplifting to see competent, intelligent, hardworking leaders at a school. It is powerful how much an environment can influence the people in it. At my old school, I was a minimalist who cut corners. Here, I see a much higher standard for quality, excellence, creativity, and fun. School is 2 days away, and it feels much less so with this night coming to a close. But never had I made a better decision at that junction earlier this year, where I almost didn't take this job.

And I'm slightly proud of having a soothing lavender purple wall. It's something that I've made personal about the room, and hopefully it can stay for some years before someone else might paint it over.