It happens more often than one could ever imagine….and anyone involved will ever admit. First year student is given a class with no existing curriculum, no resources, no guidance, and no support. And in a situation that came my way this evening….no desks in the room! At this point they are nearly 2 weeks into the school year. Are you kidding me?????

So this evening, I received a message from one of my colleagues who happens to be mentoring a young teacher who has found herself in just such a dilemma. The class is a high school general music class (I didn’t even know such a thing still existed) which means the students probably need a Fine Arts credit but they don’t play an instrument and aren’t interested in singing, so they are placed in this class. Well, perhaps class is the wrong term. More like dumping ground. Here is a teacher with no experience developing a curriculum, no experience dealing with the challenges of an urban school, and CLEARLY no support or direction from the school’s administration. I have been asked to meet with my colleague and her mentee to develop a plan and lay the groundwork for both her success, and the success of her students. Something I will be happy to do.

Today, no every day, if you find yourself in a position similar to this young teacher and find that you lack the skills, resources, and support necessary for success, reach out for help. Find a mentor who has the experience and insights to be able to help you get the resources and support you need. Sadly, situations like the one I described above too often result in the teacher either leaving the school or worse, the profession. And this is not the young teacher’s fault. It is the fault of poor leadership at the administrative level. Just sayin’!

Make Today a Magnificent Day!

Gary L Rupert