A little analog inspiration taken from Cori’s messages:
#failforward & #kbdb [know better do better]
*mirror image, made with salvaged wood type
This is how it ends. Budgets get prioritized. Spreadsheets get adjusted. Cabinet decisions happen. Board policy does whatever it does. And, then the TOSA funding disappears.
Well, it's not quite that simple. I knew my Tech TOSA position was a temporary thing.
"All we are is dust in the wind, Dude."
Talking with attendees at Fall CUE and Spring CUE, this seems to be a trend across numerous districts in California. Maybe that's confirmation bias. Maybe it's just anecdotal evidence. Maybe it's purely coincidental. I'm no scientist. I am an Instructional Technology Coach, or TOSA. At least, I was for four years.
On several occasions, I joked with my supervisor (the Asst. Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction) that I'd teach my way out of a job if do it properly. Meaning, I'm not just helping students learn technologies and using technologies to learn in new ways...I'm arming the teaching staff with digital tools, as well.
Building Capacity
That was the big push before SEL. Don't get me wrong. SEL is a useful and powerful strategy. It needs the funding. I also know that district priorities shift. Learning goals change. Outcomes get realigned.
It was a good four-year run as a TOSA. To be fair, I did ask the question in my interview ~four years ago, "How long will you fund this TOSA position?" The answer was three years for sure, and possibly four. And, here we are at the end of year four.
But, what does it mean?
It means that I'll be somewhere, doing something in the education field next year. At this point, I'm not sure exactly what that looks like. However, I'm optimistic. The bigger issue for me right now is deciding what to do with all this digital portfolio stuff and social media.
One thing I do need: a total rebrand. I don't mean that in an Instagram influencer, social media evangelist kinda way. I just need to create an identity that sticks across platforms and is not tied to one job or one district.
I really need to shy away from titles [see previous post]. I need to focus on building my own capacity. So, like any good planner, I reviewed Sun Tzu's Art of War and then I made a to-do list.
Currently working on:
-
Laying Plans - letters of recommendation acquisition (3, but 4 would be ideal)
- resume (in both traditional and infographic format)
- new URL for this website
- new Instagram handle
- new Twitter handle
It took me a little over a week to read Educated by Design, and I am already revisiting it.
I picked up a copy at Spring CUE in March, and couldn't wait to read through it. To be honest, I would have read the entire book the first night if it weren't for my other obligations like attending breakout sessions, presenting, and assisting my CapCUE colleagues.
It is such a great book, especially for those teachers and students who say they are not creative. It's filled with inspiration and practical applications.
5 of our 5 stars
★★★★★
❝When one door closes, another door opens❞
—people who don't fully understand how doors work