I interviewed for a new job. My current position is in Instructional Services. The position I interviewed for is in Information Technology. I love my job, but after this last year, I was interested in looking for a different experience. I do not know which job I will have in July.

So, I’ve been thinking about two different paths. What sort of professional growth would good for my Instructional Services job? How would that be different from my new position in Information Technology.

Instructional Services

I’ve been in the Instructional Services department for around 13 years. I’ve been at a few schools. I’ve mentored a few people. I’ve participated in a few pilot programs. So, what do I want to do with year 14?

• Highlighting others – There is so much institutional information that get siloed. We have so much to learn from each other and people are willing to share, but often people do not share unless asked. I want to ask. I wanted to create a space where I ask people to share what they are excited about. I thought about first reaching out to people in my position at other schools, but then interviewing teachers as well.

• Creating Resources – The other part of highlighting others sharing in a way that honors the giver (the person interviewed) and the gift (the knowledge they are sharing). I was thinking about a podcast (yea, I know, who isn’t doing a podcast). It would be about building a space where people could share those great ideas and their ideas could be shared.

• Focus – When you have been in a position a while you experience a sort of job description creep. Other random things become your job, and stay because of momentum. Why do I do afternoon bus duty? Because originally it was done from the news studio, and the powers that be wanted someone who could troubleshoot the news studio. This is no longer the case, so do I have to be the person in charge of it? Instead, how can I focus on things that fit my mission in the school?

Information Technology

A position in the Information Technology department would be a change. I’ve been in a IT adjacent position. I am not sure what the right professional development would be for next year.

A while back a friend asked for advice in moving to a new school. I had no advice, just my own reflections on how I had screwed up when I made a similar move. Things I told him at the time were

• Connection – People do not care what you know until they know how much you care. So one goal would be to connect to my new staff. We know listening builds connection. We know engaging in a community builds connection.

• Reflection – Reflection should be a part of everything we do, job and non-job. But for a new position I think I need to be much more intentional about how I reflect. Maybe a daily reflection? Maybe reflecting with a mentor? I do not have this one figured out as much.

• Mindset – Jobs have mindsets. The mindset I need for a teacher is different from my Instructional Services job. The IS job would be different from IT. I need to develop that new mindset and move away from the old one.

I am still on my weight loss journey. I lost over 100 pounds and then my son was hospitalized for 2 months and I spent much of that time self-soothing with food. I came out 40 pounds heavier. I’m trying to lose that weight and a bit more after that.

I’ve been struggling with the idea that me wanting to eat is not hunger. That it is often self-soothing.

I want to approach this the way I approached practicing clarinet. The end goal was to perform the piece. But practice was not about always trying to play the piece perfectly. Practice was about taking apart the music, and my own playing. The practice was about figuring out where the rough spots were, and putting it back together so when you wanted to perform it was the best it could be.

So, I’ve been working on food practices. The current practice is a modified 8:16 intermittent fasting. I start eating at 2:00 p.m. and I stop at 10:00 p.m. The idea is to figure out if I am hungry, or if I am self-soothing. If I start breaking my fast at noon instead of 2:00, I do not worry about it that much.

I’ll start my day, happy as a clam. I won’t even think about food. And then, something stressful happens at work and I’m dying for something to eat. It happens all the time. And I have to tell myself, minutes ago you were not hungry. This is not hunger. This is soothing.

This is my current practice, not necessarily a long term solution. Once I get a better handle on this, the practice might change course.