Unfortunately,
sometimes life forces us to make decisions that are difficult and
uncomfortable. I recently moved on from my previous school and started a new
opportunity in February. It was tough to make the decision to leave my students
and parents I had known and established such close relationships with for
almost two years.
It was a situation that had been tormenting me for some time, but I was determined to make it work and exhaust all measures before walking away. There were lots of sleepless nights, tears, prayers, questioning of my career choices and exhausting the listening ears of many family members and friends. I finally made my choice to leave.
I don’t want to make it seem as I though I am expecting any one school building or district to be perfect because I know that is not the case. I think everyone early in his or her career would want to be in a place where he or she feels nurtured, supported professionally and most of all in an environment that shares your personal and professional values and ethics.
CEC provides us with that very foundation in the CEC Ethical Principles and Practice Standards for Special Education Professionals. I admit that not being able to meet some of those very principles bothered me and being somewhere where they were not fully valued made it very hard to attain them. In my former situation, trying to work according to those ethical principles became very isolating and challenging.
The hardest part, besides feeling as though I had failed when making the decision to walk away, was leaving my students behind. Just as I was about to call it quits for the school year, a phone call came in for the new opportunity. I love teaching and couldn’t deny my calling or the opportunity to continue to grow professionally.
It’s no easier to start over by walking into a mid-year position. I still have to build new relationships and learn a new system, but I am open to the process and look forward to new beginnings in my mid-year change.
I would like to hear from any of you Reality 101 readers who ever found themselves making a tough decision similar to mine and how you came out on top. Like always I leave you with a good quote to remember: “Just keep believing. This is an opportunity where great things can happen and let’s be great right now.” – Tim Tebow
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