“We want you to be successful.”

 

It’s nearly 8 weeks into a new year (School Year 2024-2025) as Art Teacher at Confluence Academies’ Old North Campus. I was hired a year ago and accepted the contract for another year. The administration had hired me after a convincing interview that included a personal demonstration of my approach during Summer School. I was hired to provide guidance for Middle Schoolers who might benefit from the district's philosophy and belief in “Pathway to the Arts.”

Dr. Boxley, the school Principal, was enthusiastic about my hire. She was very strong in the persuasive notion that the “Specials Team” shared vision, that included two coaches, a librarian, a family and consumer science (FACS) teacher, a STEM teacher (who she hoped would soon be a STEAM teacher incorporating the Arts as well), a music teacher, and a dance/movement teacher and me (The Art Teacher).

The best laid plans as we know don’t always play out. Half of the specials team did NOT return and NONE of the balance were pleased with the schedule that changed dramatically. For me, it meant that I was to teach ALL grade levels (PreK, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8^th) within a schedule that changed on A, B, C, and D days. I try to be the best I can be under the circumstances. BUT with class sizes averaging over 20 means I need to inspire and motivate scholars for up to 26 classes a week.

Remember this is an underserved community and behavior management is an enormous challenge for anyone charged to instruct these age groups. The Admin Staff has changed dramatically and the Principal had been out sick for weeks. There has to be consequences. Running, Fighting, Throwing Things, and wholesale silliness makes for more than a few problems for me. That said, I am excited by the sparks of quality creativity and effort from a handful of students that validate the value of teaching art.    

The administration suggests they want me to be successful. It feels like a bureaucratic tap dance that puts the blame on me instead of fixing some pretty basic problems (including too many students and not enough of a reasonable adult to child ratio to keep behaviors under control). I continue to believe that engaged students can and will have fun learning about art. I need to work the room and demonstrate techniques and encourage triumphs as they occur.

What I DON’T NEED is a series of academic coaches making blanket suggestions and dictating how to fix some of the ridiculousness. I almost never yell. I am against the harsh sounding threatening “mommy voice” that teachers and administrators seem to employ here. It appears to work, but I have observed that is is not a real solution. 1. It isn’t fair to yell at an entire class when more often than not there are only a few being truly disruptive. (Admittedly, the social nature of youngsters does escalate with peer spectators reacting to inappropriate actions).

I threw two 8^th grade boys out of my class because they were fighting. (I don’t care it is was a “play fight” or just horse play. It cannot be tolerated as it is sure to escalate if allowed to continue.) You’re Out! The academic coach, Mr. Neal (who insists that procedure such as seating charts and stern talk of “expectations” will be the solution if only Mr. Morgan would listen to his wisdom). He returned with the fighting-offenders saying they needed to be returned to the room. “NOT HERE. NO FIGHTING“ was my emphatic response.  My not allowing them back in results in a public display (for the onlooking 8^th graders who had settled into their assignments until the adults strongly disagreeing on an appropriate coarse of action provides something to consider as I am undermined again in front of students. Rejecting the return of these two boys, I directed them to leave. The administrator fuels the controversy with “Where are they gonna go?” and “Don’t you put your hands on them!” I Gently directed one of the two boys to leave the room. It is preposterous to characterize the pat on the back as anything uncalled for in this scenario.

Separately, the Arts coach included in her preachy remarks that managing classroom behavior is no different than managing adults in the workforce (as I had indicated I have done in my career path that incudes managing marketing in corporate environments). This 30-year veteran of education, Dr. Crawford clearly was determined to set herself apart as an expert on classroom behavior, lesson planning and procedures.

The interim principal, Ms. Todd is genuinely trying to hold down the fort but it is no small challenge holding this unruly chaos to a dull roar. In fact, the school is having trouble keeping teachers as they struggle to maintain attendance better than 90%, improve assessment test scores and stay competitive for enrollment.

 

PHOTOS: Angels of Harmony sculpture adjacent to The Cathedral Basilica was recently accosted by a crane operator. The Artist hopes to restore the work. Below: The building across the street from Old North Academy represents the community in distress. 

P.S. I got a letter of reprimand handed to me in an ambush of a meeting on October 7, 2024 led by the Chief Human Resources Officer.  (As a response to my kicking two fighting 8th grade students out of my class and refusing to allow them back into my class). Meanwhile I am still waiting for PowerSchool updates  for my classes requested by the Assistant Principal on September 30, 2024. (Still is not completed for all grades until October 14, 2024). 

I am not convinced that anyone at this struggling school really cares about my "success" as I continue to SHOW UP for classes on A B C and D days with up to 26 classes with nearly 400 students each week in grades from Pre K, K, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8th grade, (THIS IS A NO WIN SITUATION FOR WAM). Walk a mile in my shoes for a full day (A,B.C. or D day before you judge me). Oh, and for the record, I have 383 students and they keep piling on with the admin adding classes whenever they see "support" in my schedule. So Adams "CLC" and an additional Kindergarten class has been added to my load in October. 

NOTE: On October 31, 2024 the CLC crew (12 of them) at 8:05 managed to be well enough behaved for better than 50% completion my assignment (6 squares for coloring pencil). At 9:05 Ms. Cooley's 8th graders (12 more students) lined up at my door), Same assignment in both classes, I tried to get enough attention while they did this mindful activity to talk about the artist Claude Monet. One student actually paid attention as a favor to her art teacher. Another student, who had previously been ejected for fighting apparently still holds a grudge. He would not listen to instruction. He refused. I told him to get the F out of my room (Yes, I used the F  bomb, probable because I heard that word used by students this day - no less than a dozen times). 

The student struck me several times about the head, arm and torso until I got a nose bleed, lumps on my head, a bump on my cheek and what will surely be a black eye. I screamed for HELP as I was completely defenseless and unable to strike back. I was not willing to stay at school while the sub nurse and security team of two tried to cover the school with protocols for workman's comp and what I can only assume to be "cover your ass liability" reasons. It's sad that I continue to feel such a lack of support, even as the school piles-on classes/duties. 

Successful? I feel much more like a failure.\

AND SO IT GOES: On Friday, November 15, 2024 (after six classes) the acting principal and a representative for the HR department ambush me again. Leaving me no choice but to resign. Disappointing. I feel like I was set up to fail...not to succeed.