The New Dawning

This might come off as a pie in the sky post so either bear with me or go read about Roger Clemens and his exploding career below instead.

Yesterday ended up being a pretty good day all the way around. I started working at my third school, was very impressed by the teacher's setup, went to a multi-hour tech meeting, filled out lots more paperwork, got some signatures, signed some other papers and then went back to the new school. With a delicious new MacBook Pro in tow.

Not one of the newest of the new, it is still a way smoking little machine and absolutely crushes my old G4 Aluminum (even if it weren't slowly dying) in terms of speed and cool stuff its got. And, even though I hate Windows, it is pretty slick to be able to reboot my computer into Windows XP. I'm still configuring it and getting it up to speed for my use both professionally and personally.

I didn't get my district cellphone yet but that's because I need to go on a signature drive first. I need my three principals to agree to the unusual contract. And then I get a new phone to go with my other new gear.

It will take some getting used to this new schedule but I do think it'll be kind of nice to be moving around so much and dealing with so many different kids, teachers, campuses and computers. There will be difficulties, to be sure, but overall its a really good situation.

And I am looking forward to improving the tech capabilities of my schools to produce a more savvy student as well as educating teachers in making better use of technology.

There were alot of good things yesterday and I don't want to forget them. Let's see: new laptop, new school, fully completed HR paperwork, a raise (which was unexpected and rather awesome), new info about my benefits package (which kicks the butt, for sure), a new cellphone on the way, mileage reimbursement, and more hours. Oh yeah, I also picked a useful and inexpensive tool kit to be able to pull machines apart more easily. Woot all the way around!

Two New Schools in Two Days

I started working at my first new school yesterday. I'll start at the other one today. For an hour an a half and then I have to leave for a several hour tech meeting. And then back to the new school again.

Today was interesting, atypical and kind of cool. Atypical because the school was getting cable installed, that is, ethernet and fiber optic throughout. And the hub of activity was my office, which had been used as a kind of closet and was in the process of becoming the server room. It had at least ten Imacs, the kind with CRTs, on each flat surface and doubled up where they could. And lots of dust. Loads of fun.

It actually was a pretty good day. The teachers, as at my first school, were thrilled to have some computer support available again and a couple remarked on the progress I'd made yesterday in clearing out the office and making it usable again.

Wednesday will be fun and I might just be coming home with a new(ish) laptop and a new district paid-for cellphone too. That'd be fine!

And I'm looking forward to getting comfortable with the new schedule so I can start riding my motorcycle and not spend 45 minutes commuting less than 15 miles like yesterday morning.